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England v Italy: Line-ups, stats and preview

Italy have won five and drawn one of their six Euro meetings with England, including qualifying

Written by 101 GreatGoals
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England v Italy: Line-ups, stats and preview

England vs Italy match preview

In their first semi-final since 1997, Italy are live underdogs against holders England at Women’s Euro 2025, having knocked out two-time champions Norway in dramatic fashion in the last eight.

The Lionesses have been in mixed form, looking well short of their best in a 2-1 opening defeat to France before thrashing the Netherlands and Wales and recovering from 2-0 behind to oust Sweden on penalties in the knockout stage.

New Washington Spirit forward Sofia Cantore set up both of former Juventus team-mate Cristiana Girelli’s goals against Norway, putting Andrea Soncin’s side ahead in the 50th minute and scoring the 90th-minute winner in Geneva.

“We started this journey dreaming of July 27,” Cantore told womenseuro.com, referencing a potential final against Spain or Germany in Basel on Sunday.

“Now we have a real shot at getting there. The coach keeps reminding us of that and we’ll give it everything we’ve got.”

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England fell 2-0 behind after 25 minutes against Sweden in Zurich, replying through Lucy Bronze in the 79th minute and 19-year-old substitute Michelle Agyemang two minutes later before Hannah Hampton saved two penalties in a shootout featuring nine missed attempts.

“We have players who can just find their moment,” striker Alessia Russo told the That Lionesses Podcast, praising Chloe Kelly for coming off the bench to set up the goals.

“We have players who can come on and change games. You need that in tournament football. There are a lot of games in not a lot of days, so to have a massive squad full of players who can come on, make an impact, score goals, create goals and save goals… we really appreciate that.”

Hampton called Italy’s campaign “unbelievable”. “They’re going to treat it like a final and try to cause an upset,” the Chelsea goalkeeper predicted.

Italy came from behind to win both of the previous meetings between the nations at the finals 2-1, in 1987 and 2009.

Italy women

England vs Italy team news

England manager Sarina Wiegman is likely to name an unchanged side and hope for no repeat of their disjointed first-half display against Sweden.

Captain Leah Williamson was replaced during extra time with an ankle injury but the Arsenal defender is expected to be fit to start.

Fellow centre-back Millie Bright withdrew from the squad in June, saying she could not “give 100% mentally or physically”.

Italy are likely to stick with the team who started their win over Norway, with three-goal Cristiana Girelli the first Italian to score more than twice at the finals since Carolina Morace, who finished on four in 1997.

At 35 years and 90 days of age, Girelli looks set to become the second-oldest player for her country at the semi-finals, after Elisabetta Vignotto in 1989.

Girelli’s 19 goals in Serie A last season represented four more than any other player for the Most Valuable Player in the division.

Italy’s major pre-tournament absentee was 18-year-old midfielder Giulia Dragoni, who spent last season on loan at Roma from Barcelona and is sidelined following ankle surgery.

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England vs Italy predicted line-ups

England starting XI: Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Carter, Greenwood; Toone, Walsh, Stanway; James, Russo, Hemp

Italy starting XI: Giuliani; Oliviero, Salvai, Linari, Di Guglielmo; Giugliano; Cantore, Caruso, Severini, Bonansea; Girelli

How to watch England vs Italy: TV and online streams

The game kicks off at 20:00 BST on Tuesday, with live coverage in the UK on ITV1 and STV from 19:00.

Fans can watch the action online and live-stream the match on a vast range of devices via ITV.com, the ITVX app and STV Player.

England vs Italy stats

England vs Italy prediction

Italy have been entertaining surprise packages and could make a mockery of their long odds if England defend poorly again.

Girelli, Cantore and the likes of Bayern Munich’s Arianna Caruso and Juve’s Barbara Bonansea have the ability to orchestrate an upset, but their 5-1 defeat to England in a friendly last year and 3-1 loss to Spain during the group stage seem instructive in predicting the likely outcome.

Back England to win 4-2 and don’t be surprised if Italy score first, as they have done in each of their four games at these finals and seven of their last eight matches.

Beth Mead

Euro 2025 quarter final fixtures, results

Wednesday, July 16

QF1: Norway 1-2 Italy (Geneva)

Thursday, July 17

QF3: Sweden 2-2 England (2-3p) (Zurich)

Friday, July 18

QF2: Spain 2-0 Switzerland (Bern)

Saturday, July 19

QF4: France 1-1 Germany (5-6p) (Basel)

Semi-finals

Tuesday, July 22

SF1: England vs Italy (Geneva, 20:00)

Wednesday, July 23

SF2: Germany vs Spain (Zurich, 20:00)

Final

Sunday, July 27

Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 (Basel, 17:00)

Women’s Euro 2025 groups: Which teams qualified?

England were given a tricky task in Group D, facing 2017 champions the Netherlands and a France team ranked 11th in the world by Fifa.

Elsewhere, eight-time champions Germany met inaugural winners and four-time finalists Sweden in Group C, while Spain’s attempt to reach the final for the first time pitted them against opponents including Italy, runners-up in 1993 and 1997.

Group A

Finland, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland

Group B

Belgium, Spain, Italy, Portugal

Group C

Denmark, Germany, Poland, Sweden

Group D

England, France, Netherlands, Wales

Women’s Euro 2025 fixtures, schedule

Euro 2025 Group stage

Wednesday, July 2

Group A: Iceland 0-1 Finland (Thun)
Switzerland 1-2 Norway (Basel)

Thursday, July 3

Group B: Belgium 0-1 Italy (Sion)
Spain 5-0 Portugal (Bern)

Friday, July 4

Group C: Denmark 0-1 Sweden (Geneva)
Germany 2-0 Poland (St.Gallen)

Saturday, July 5

Group D: Wales 0-3 Netherlands (Lucerne)
France 2-1 England (Zurich)

Sunday, July 6

Group A: Norway 2-1 Finland (Sion)
Switzerland 2-0 Iceland (Bern)

Monday, July 7

Group B: Spain 6-2 Belgium (Thun)
Portugal 1-1 Italy (Geneva)

Tuesday, July 8

Group C: Germany 2-1 Denmark (Basel)
Poland 0-3 Sweden (Lucerne)

Wednesday, July 9

Group D: England 4-0 Netherlands (Zurich)
France 4-1 Wales (St.Gallen)

Thursday, July 10

Group A: Finland 1-1 Switzerland (Geneva)
Norway 4-3 Iceland (Thun)

Friday, July 11

Group B: Italy 1-3 Spain (Bern)
Portugal 1-2 Belgium (Sion)

Saturday, July 12

Group C: Sweden 4-1 Germany (Zurich)
Poland 3-2 Denmark (Lucerne)

Sunday, July 13

Group D: Netherlands 2-5 France (Basel)
England 6-1 Wales (St.Gallen)

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