Key events
The players are out now and the anthems will soon be underway. Everyone have their nerves in check? Okay good, me either.
How have the favourites to win changed since the group stage? Take a read:
I’d love to hear from you and specifically on a snack or drink you’ve recently discovered and loved. I have become obsessed with a hazelnut iced latte. You can email me your thoughts on that and of course about the football too.
Andrea Soncin, Italy coach, added:
There’s an incredible adrenaline, we can’t wait. It’s going to be a tough and challenging match against a difficult opponent, but we have the awareness, the strong motivation, and the desire to reach the final four. In a competition of this level, in a moment like this, there are no favourites – it will be a very balanced match. Norway, like all the other teams, are dreaming of reaching the semi-finals. We need a lot of focus and concentration, and then the girls must feel free to express their qualities – they have many, and that gives us confidence and awareness that we can go through.
Gemma Grainger, Norway coach, has said:
[Italy’s] obvious strengths, for me, are the individuals they have; they have some very good individual players. From a defensive perspective, they’re very well-organised, as you would expect from an Italian team, and have a strong back five. From an attacking perspective, they are very forward-thinking and like to get a lot of numbers in the box when they attack.
Who’s ready for the joy and heartbreak of knockout football? Ah I knew it. Here’s a piece to get you more warmed up:
Something I failed to spot when the craziness of getting the team news out dropped was that Norway have put Ingrid Engen at centre-back, Tuva Hansen at full-back and Guro Reiten in the midfield. Interesting choice to say the least.
And what about Italy I hear you ask? Here you go:
Here are some stars in the Norway team who you should keep an eye on this evening:
The team news is in. Norway have made four changes with Ada Hegerberg and Carolina Graham Hansen among those back in, while the headline is Signe Gaupset retaining her shirt. She had a great game against Iceland.
Norway: Fiskerstrand; Bjelde, Mjelde, T Hansen, Reiten; Naalsund, Maanum, Engen; Graham Hansen, Hegerberg, Gaupset
Subs: Panengstuen, Mikalsen, Woldvik, Østenstad, Bøe Risa, Sævik, Kielland, Harviken, Ildhusøy, Terland, Jensen
Italy, meanwhile, have made three changes to their starting XI.
Italy: Giulani; By Guglielmo, Salvai, Linari; Oliviero, Caruso, Giugliano, Severini, Bonansea; Girelli, singer
Subs: Baldi, Durante (GK), Schatzer, Piedmont, Piga, Bergamo, Serturini, Goldoni, Boattin, Lenzini, Greggi, Cambiaghi
Norway have some of the best players in the world in their ranks but they have fallen far short than what they are capable of at the past few major tournaments. Can they put it right this summer? Read below:
Norway are expected to make quite a few changes from their last game as they benched stars like Ada Hegerberg and Caroline Graham Hansen in their 4-3 win against Iceland.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the first quarter-final of Euro 2025 which will be competed between Norway and Italy.
They both had very different journeys in the group stage. Norway had bumpy performances but came away with three wins from three to top Group A. Italy, meanwhile, won one, drew one and lost one to come through as runners-up in Group B.
I will talk you through some stars to keep an eye on and what has been said in the build-up shortly. First though there is the little matter of team news. So stay tuned before kick-off at 8pm BST.
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