Girelli’s Heroics Sink Norway as Hegerberg Faces Euro 2025 Heartbreak

So, what a dramatic night it was at the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 quarter-final between Norway and Italy. This match had everything—missed chances, redemption arcs, last-minute heartbreak, and above all, the spotlight once again on Ada Hegerberg, but not for the reasons she would have hoped.

Italy came into the game with hunger and a clear plan. Right from the first whistle, they looked sharper and more cohesive. The first half saw a flurry of chances from the Italians—Arianna Caruso, Cristiana Girelli, and Barbara Bonansea all came close to breaking the deadlock. Yet despite their dominance, the scoreboard remained untouched at halftime.

Then came the breakthrough. Just five minutes into the second half, Sofia Cantore delivered a pinpoint cross, and who else but the veteran Cristiana Girelli was there to tap it in with a delicate left-footed finish. At 35 years and 84 days old, she’s now the oldest player to score a brace in a single match for a European nation at a major tournament. That’s not just a stat—that’s history.

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But the game flipped on its head around the hour mark. Norway were handed a lifeline—a penalty after Ada Hegerberg was brought down in the box. All eyes were on the Lyon striker, especially since she'd already missed from the spot earlier in the tournament. And tragically, she missed again. Nerves, pressure, maybe just bad luck—but the ball sailed wide, and Hegerberg could only bury her face in her hands.

To her credit, she bounced back. Just six minutes later, she slotted home an equalizer, restoring some faith and putting Norway back in the contest. At that point, it looked like we were heading for extra time.

But Girelli had other plans. In the dying moments of the game—90th minute—Cantore once again delivered a beautiful cross into the box, and Girelli rose to head it home. It was a strike that didn’t just win the game; it shattered Norwegian hopes and secured Italy’s first semi-final appearance in a major tournament since 1997.

And let’s not forget the emotional weight of that win. For Italy, this wasn’t just about advancing. It was about belief, resurgence, and rewriting history. As Girelli said after the game, “If you have a flame, you have to continue to live.” That quote alone speaks volumes about their mentality.

So while Italy celebrates, Norway will be left asking the hard questions. And we’re left wondering—was this the last time we see Ada Hegerberg on a major international stage?

Whatever happens next, this night in Geneva will be remembered for the brilliance of Girelli and the cruel twist of fate for Hegerberg. Football, in all its beauty and heartbreak.

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