The Women`s Euro semifinals kick off on Tuesday with a highly anticipated match between England and Italy. This encounter pits a strong tournament favorite against what has become this summer`s surprise team.
Defending European champions England enter Tuesday`s game as strong favorites, driven by their potent offense as they seek a second consecutive title. Their path to the semifinals was hard-fought; in a tight quarterfinal against Sweden, they fell behind 2-0 in the first half but staged a quick comeback after halftime, scoring twice to force extra time and ultimately a penalty shootout. The Lionesses secured a 3-2 victory in a protracted seven-round shootout against Sweden.
Despite their challenging quarterfinal, England remain the favorites against an Italian side enjoying a historic Women`s Euro campaign. Italy achieved their first Euro knockout win since 1997 on Wednesday, defeating Norway 2-1, a match where Le Azzurre notably outperformed their opponents. While facing England will be a significant test, this tournament promises to be a pivotal moment for Italy, regardless of the outcome.
Both nations are vying for a place in Sunday`s final, where they will face the winner of Wednesday`s other semifinal between Spain and Germany.
Match Details & Odds
- Date: Tuesday, July 22
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Stade de Geneve — Lancy, Switzerland
- TV: Fox
- Live stream: Fubo (try for free)
- Odds: England -210; Draw +340; Italy +500
Last Meeting
In their most recent encounter, England secured a dominant 5-1 friendly victory over Italy in February 2024. The Lionesses took an early lead with Lotte Wubben-Moy scoring in the first minute and were 3-0 up by halftime, featuring a brace from Lauren Hemp. Michela Cambiaghi netted Italy`s only goal just before the break, with Ella Toone and Rachel Daly adding to England`s tally in the second half. While this result highlights England`s offensive power, it also offers Italy a clear benchmark for their current progress and determination.
What England Are Saying
England`s semifinal preparations have been overshadowed by racist abuse targeting defender Jess Carter on social media, prompting widespread support for her and calls for stronger action. Both Carter`s teammates and head coach Sarina Wiegman have urged social media platforms to do more to combat discriminatory language. Wiegman also confirmed that England will not take a knee before their semifinal, as players seek more substantive measures against racism from football authorities.
Midfielder Georgia Stanway stated, “We feel like it has gone past that now. We feel it is still happening even when we are taking the knee. We have decided that we will stand and we will not do that. We think that is a way of making change in itself because we want to get people talking – we want to tell people that what is being done isn`t enough.”
Italy`s team has also expressed solidarity with Carter, with head coach Andrea Soncin emphasizing that discriminatory language transcends sport. Soncin remarked, “There is the greatest of solidarity with her and towards anyone suffering violence and abuse. It should not be tolerated. We have a responsibility with the position we are in to send the right messages. We need to give educational messages, including to children. It is a cultural campaign, a cultural battle.”
Regarding team news, England`s captain Leah Williamson is reportedly available for selection on Tuesday, despite her injury exit from the quarterfinal against Sweden.
What Italy Are Saying
Italy has been identified as a team with rising potential for some time, but this summer`s tournament in Switzerland has seen them translate that promise into tangible success. Their performance serves as a testament to the increasing competitiveness in women`s football. Similar to other emerging teams, their progress has been significantly bolstered by increased focus and investment. They have successfully found the right tactical balance on the pitch, fulfilling the high expectations placed upon them and fostering a newfound confidence befitting a semifinalist.
Italy`s captain, Cristiana Girelli, acknowledged their underdog status, stating, “We are [the underdogs]. It`s true, because, on paper, we might be. Out of the four semi-finalists, we`re talking about the world champions, the European champions, and Germany, who have the most titles in Europe. I agree with those who see us as the underdogs. But football is decided on the pitch, not on paper. We`ll be ready to give it our all. And when Italy give our all, it`s always harder for everyone else.”
Girelli, with three goals and a contender for the Golden Boot, credits much of Italy`s recent success to coach Andrea Soncin, who took over after the 2023 Women`s World Cup. Girelli praised his impact, saying, “He`s done an incredible job – he`s played a huge role. He brought cohesion to this team, he gave us motivation, he let us express ourselves, and he gives us self-belief every day. We`re building this awareness that we can do it no matter what. He`s brought ideas – new ideas. And it`s also maybe made us express our abilities even better. And one thing you can`t take for granted is that he made us feel important, and he made us all realise that everyone has their time. He`s done an extraordinary job.”
Soncin faces the challenge of devising a strategy to overcome England`s potent offense, a team known for consistently outscoring opponents. He expressed confidence, stating, “We`re confident we have what it takes to win this match. The focus over the past few days has been on recovery and recharging. England use possession well, but that`s not their main weapon — they`re very direct, they attack space, and they know how to make the most of their attacking qualities.”
Predicted Lineups
England: Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, Jess Carter, Alex Greenwood, Ella Toone, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Lauren James, Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp
Italy: Laura Giuliani, Elisabetta Oliviero, Cecilia Salvai, Elena Linari, Lucia Di Guglielmo, Arianna Caruso, Manuela Giugliano, Emma Severini, Sofia Cantore, Cristiana Girelli, Barbara Bonansea
Player to Watch
Alessia Russo, England: Among England`s formidable attacking options, Alessia Russo stands out. The 26-year-old is integral to Sarina Wiegman`s offensive strategy for the Lionesses. While she has one goal at the Women`s Euro, her greater impact has been in facilitating opportunities for her teammates, demonstrated by her three assists in four games. Her individual contributions include 2.88 expected goals and 0.93 expected assists. A strong performance from England on Tuesday will likely be significantly influenced by Russo`s continued excellence.
Storyline to Watch
Italy`s Cinderella Moment: Italy might seem like the outlier among semifinalists, which include World Cup winners Spain and Germany, and European champions England. However, their remarkable rise is arguably the most captivating narrative as the Women`s Euro approaches its climax. Their quarterfinal victory against Norway exemplified the positive trajectory of women`s football, showcasing how emerging teams can overcome established rivals. Italy comprehensively outplayed Norway, displaying an offensive capability that could challenge England`s occasionally vulnerable defense. While an Italian victory on Tuesday might be considered an upset, the hope is that they will, at minimum, deliver a competitive performance against England, thereby inspiring further growth of women`s football in their home country, regardless of the match outcome.
Prediction
A repeat of last year`s dominant 5-1 win for England appears improbable, a sentiment echoed by Georgia Stanway, who noted that “Tournaments are completely different. You turn up to a tournament and it`s just 90 minutes where you might not be the better team, it`s just a case of who puts the ball in the back of the net.”
While this holds true, Italy brings significant momentum and has demonstrably improved over the past year, possessing the potential to surprise England. Cristiana Girelli has been pivotal to their semifinal journey. Although Italy may not possess the same scoring prowess as the Lionesses, England`s defense has shown vulnerabilities that could be exploited on Tuesday. Nevertheless, given England`s wealth of attacking talent, a defeat seems unlikely, making this their match to lose.
