Cristiana Girelli shoots Italy against Norway with two goals. Then the captain raves about her team – and from the template to the decisive goal in the last minute of the game.
When everything looked like an extension in the European Championship quarter-finals between Italy and Norway, she struck: Cristiana Girelli stole on the long post in the 90th minute, while her colleague Sofia Cantore started to cross. “When I saw that she wanted to flank, I lifted my hand”Girelli described the decisive seconds in the quarter -finals. “I knew where she would bring the ball and just had to put it in.”
And she made it in. 2: 1, huge cheers and the ticket for the semi -finals for Italy. Girelli had already taken care of the Italians in the 50th minute, who threw everything in and successfully kept the quality of the Norwegians in chess. “We suffered, but we fought to the end”according to Girelli.
Italy writes history in the European Championships 2025
In the group phase, the team had not yet played as it could, the captain said. “Maybe because we felt pressure to survive it.” This succeeded as the group second behind Spain, with Norway you have now promoted one of the favorites from the tournament.
Historical was reached, said the oldest player in the Italian squad at the age of 35. For Italy it is the first move into an EM semi-final this millennium. In 1997 the country became Vice European champion – at that time only eight teams had participated in the tournament.
Girelli and Co. in the semi -finals against Sweden or England
This time Girelli had such an idea before the trip to Switzerland. “To be honest, it felt special. I saw a special light in the eyes of my colleagues.” This glow has become even stronger after the victory against Norway and the associated progress in the semi -finals – especially with the match winner on Wednesday. “It is a dream that becomes true. It is something special”enthused Girelli.
And the dream is not over for the 35-year-old and her colleagues: next Tuesday at 9 p.m. the victorious team of the quarter-final game of Sweden is waiting against England in the semifinals (Thursday, from 8:15 p.m. in the first and in the live stream).