Italy were beaten by Spain but still qualified for the quarter-finals of the Euros for the first time since 2013. It ended 3-1 to La Furia Roja in Bern, but the defeat hasn’t ended the Azzurre’s tournament. On a date that is rich with fond memories – the 1982 World Cup final and the win against England at Wembley in 2021 – Linari and co achieved the first objective of their adventure in Switzerland. “Undescribable feeling,” said Head Coach Soncin, almost in tears after the game. “I don’t know what to say. It’s a magical thing. This is the passion that we all share. We wanted to write history and we have done. A tough and intense game against the world champions, and we prepared for just that. We’re really happy, and the praise belongs to the girls, because it wasn’t easy to pick ourselves back up following the draw with Portugal. A lot of ghosts from the past re-emerged, but they shook them off brilliantly.”

THE GAME
Spain started strongly at the Wankdorf Stadion, as Aitana Bonmatí sent a dangerous ball into the Italy box and won the first corner of the game. The Azzurre, however, were not intimidated and, after two near misses from Cantore and then Linari, they took a tenth-minute lead through Oliviero, who latched onto a loose ball in the box and slotted it home. The goal shook Tomé’s team into life, and they drew level just four minutes later. Athenea beat two players on the edge of the box, played a neat one-two with Putellas, and then rifled it past Giuliani, who won her 100th cap for her country tonight. The women in red kept up the pressure, as they threatened through Alexia and Patri, both of whom failed to hit the target. On the half-hour mark, Piemonte spurned a big chance one on one with Naclares, but the offside flag spared her blushes. Spain had the lion’s share of possession, but the Azzurre looked dangerous on the break. In the 40th minute, the ball struck Paredes on the arm inside the Spain penalty area, but, following a lengthy VAR check, the spot-kick wasn’t awarded because Cantore was ruled offside in the build-up. Cantore then had the final chance of the half but sent her headed effort sailing over the bar.

The second half got off to a difficult start for the Azzurre, who fell behind in the 49th minute. Athenea’s driving run was intercepted by the Italian backline, but the ball landed at the feet of Patri. Despite an untidy shot, the ball crept into the bottom corner, giving Spain the lead. La Furia Roja almost doubled their advantage just moments later when Paralluelo’s corner kick found Paredes at the back post, but the defender’s header missed the target. In the 60th minute, Italy responded with Linari’s goal-line miracle to deny Caldentey, and just a minute later, Nanclares produced a beautiful reflex save to keep out Cantore. But Spain’s attacking waves proved relentless as the final half-hour approached. During stoppage time, Spain struck with their final blow: Putellas delivered a perfect cross into the box, Esther fired on the volley, and despite Giuliani’s reaching touch on the shot, the ball found its way into the net through a rebound. Italy’s group stage campaign ends with their first defeat of EURO 2025, yet the bigger picture remains hopeful: the Azzurre are through to the quarterfinals, reaching the knockout stage for the first time since 2013.

ITALY 1-3 SPAIN

Italy (3-4-3): Giuliani; Lenzini, Salvai (77’ Piga), Linari; Oliviero, Giugliano (6’ Severini), Caruso, Boattin; Cantore (85’ Cambiaghi), Piemonte (58’ Girelli), Bonansea (77’ Serturini).
Subs.: Baldi, Durante, Di Guglielmo, Schatzer, Severini, Girelli, Piga, Bergamaschi, Serturini, Goldoni, Greggi, Cambiaghi
Coach: Soncin

Spagna (4-3-3): Nanclares; Fernández, Paredes, Méndez, Ouahabi; Bonmatí, Patri (87’ Zubieta), Putellas; del Castillo (58’ López), Paralluelo (76’ González), Caldentey (76’ Pina).
Subs.: Sullastres, Batlle, Carmona, González, Coll, Aleixandri, Martín-Prieto, García, López, Pina, Redondo, Zubieta.
Coach: Tomé.

Goals: 10’ Oliviero (I), 14’ del Castillo (S), 49’ Patri (S), 91’ González (S)
Referee: Iuliana Demetrescu (ROU). Assistants: Mihaela Tepusa (ROU), Franca Overtoom (NED). Fourth official: Katalin Kulcsár (HUN), VAR: Dennis Higler (NED), AVAR: Tamás Bognár (HUN)

Notes: -

RESULTS IN GROUP B

MD1

Belgium 0-1 Italy

Spain 5-0 Portugal

MD2

Portugal 1-1 Italy

Spain 6-2 Belgium

MD3

Italy 1-3 Spain

Portugal 1-2 Belgium

Standings: Spain 9 points, ITALY 4, Belgium 3, Portugal 1