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Italy person reached nan semi-finals of nan Women's Euros for nan first clip successful 28 years
Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist
Italy guidelines betwixt England and a 3rd consecutive awesome tourney last aft nan Lionesses secured a semi-final spot aft beating Sweden connected penalties.
Sarina Wiegman's broadside would beryllium favourites to progress, but aft Italy's impressive capacity against Norway successful nan last-eight it would beryllium foolish to underestimate them.
Italy are 13th successful nan Fifa world rankings, 8 places beneath England but person ne'er dropped beneath 19th since Fifa started its women's rankings successful 2003.
The Lionesses and le Azzurre person met 3 times successful nan past decade - Wiegman's broadside earned a 2-1 win successful nan Arnold Clark Cup successful February 2023, earlier inflicting a 5-1 defeat successful a friends 12 months later. In 2017, nan sides drew 1-1 successful a friendly.
BBC Sport takes a look astatine really England's opponents could origin problems successful Geneva connected Tuesday.
How did Italy scope nan semi-finals?
Italy progressed to nan knockouts by finishing 2nd successful Group B down world champions Spain.
Their run began pinch a 1-0 triumph against Belgium, earlier conceding an 89th infinitesimal equaliser successful a 1-1 tie pinch Portugal.
A 3-1 conclusion by Spain connected matchday 3 mattered small because Portugal grounded to hit Belgium.
Italy were nan amended broadside for overmuch of their quarter-final against Norway, and spurned respective chances earlier skipper Cristiana Girelli collapsed nan deadlock successful nan 50th minute.
Ada Hegerberg equalised for Norway moments aft missing a punishment for nan 2nd clip this summer, but Girelli headed location a melodramatic stoppage-time victor for a historical triumph for nan Italians.
An accomplishment only matched erstwhile - Italy's tourney record
Italy were 1 of 4 participants astatine nan inaugural Women's Euros finals successful 1984, and person featured successful each version barroom nan 1995 tournament.
However, they person not reached nan semi-finals since 1997, erstwhile they defeated Spain earlier losing to Germany successful nan final.
Their champion capacity astatine a World Cup came successful 2019 successful France, erstwhile Milena Bertolini's broadside reached nan quarter-finals aft eliminating erstwhile runners-up China.
Italy grounded to suffice for 4 successive World Cups betwixt 2003 and 2015.
Italy done to semi-finals pinch precocious winner
Morace and Panico - nan history of women's shot successful Italy
Though nan apical section of women's shot successful Italy was established successful 1968, it's only successful caller years that nan crippled turned afloat master and started to turn exponentially.
After nan Azzurre captured hearts by reaching nan quarter-finals of nan 2019 Women's World Cup, nan Italian Football Federation pledged to make Serie A Femminile master by nan commencement of nan 2022-23 season.
However, specified a landmark infinitesimal would not person been imaginable without nan foundations laid by pioneers for illustration Carolina Morace and Patrizia Panico.
Morace was 1 of nan first superstars successful nan women's game, overcoming sexism and organization barriers to lead Italy astatine six European Championships and nan inaugural Women's World Cup successful 1991.
As nan first subordinate to people a hat-trick astatine a Women's World Cup, it's possibly nary astonishment she was Serie A's apical scorer for 11 consecutive seasons betwixt 1987-88 and 1997-98.
Morace - who went connected to go nan first female to coach a master men's squad - was succeeded successful nan nationalist squad by Panico, who is Italy's astir capped subordinate (204 appearances) and all-time starring goalscorer (107).
What threat could Italy supply and has nan tourney 'taken its toll'?
Though Italy only scored 3 goals successful nan group stages, they person scored first successful each of their 4 outings successful Switzerland.
Andrea Soncin's broadside controlled possession successful nan first half against Norway and transitioned from defence to onslaught pinch frightening speed.
England's defence person already struggled pinch nan gait of France and Sweden's forwards, and that has been an ongoing interest since nan World Cup successful 2023.
"Italy load nan line. They do it really efficaciously and nan Norwegians conscionable couldn't woody pinch really they agelong nan game," erstwhile England defender Anita Asante said connected BBC One.
Italy for illustration to make nan transportation arsenic wide arsenic possible. Against Norway their wide players hugged nan touchline, meaning makeshift left-back Guro Reiten was incapable to lend to attacks. They could look to pin backmost England full-backs Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood successful a akin way.
"Italy showed nan fight, they showed nan hunger and they showed nan belief. They're besides reflecting nan maturation of Italian women's football," said Asante.
Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha picked up connected Italy's post-match celebrations.
"Italy were celebrating arsenic if they've almost won it themselves, but that's a reminder that location are truthful galore different perceptions arsenic you participate nan tourney and that's important because they'll beryllium proud of that arsenic a squad and nation.
"Why tin they not judge they tin triumph 1 much crippled and play for nan full trophy?"
That said, Italy appeared to emblem during nan 2nd half, and were fortunate Norway did not capitalise. However, England needed other clip and penalties to beating Sweden and person an wounded interest complete skipper Leah Williamson aft she hobbled off.
"I conscionable deliberation we're starting to spot that lethargic broadside from Italy, arsenic you would expect successful nan 4th crippled of this tournament," erstwhile Scotland skipper Rachel Corsie said connected BBC Radio 5 Live.
"A batch of players person started each nan matches. You tin understand why it would return its toll."
Girelli scores precocious victor for Italy against Norway
The seasoned striker & midfield creators - players to watch
There's nary looking past skipper and linchpin Girelli, who produced 2 awesome finishes against Norway.
The first was a deft touch to guideline a fizzing debased transverse into nan acold corner, nan 2nd a well-placed header that glanced successful disconnected nan underside of nan crossbar.
At 35 she is approaching nan extremity of her profession but her 3 goals successful nan tourney propose she has much to offer.
"That's why she has nan estimation that she does," said Corsie. "She's been successful nan crippled a agelong time. She knows wherever nan backmost of nan nett is."
Club-mate Sofia Cantore - 10 years her inferior - has been different stand-out performer, providing some assists connected Wednesday.
Winger Barbara Bonansea provides width and a wicked transportation to boot, while Roma's Manuela Giugliano is simply a ultimate midfield creator - she created 5 chances against Norway, much than anyone other connected nan pitch.
'Sweeping move!' - Girelli scores opening extremity for Italy