Cristiana Girelli: The hero of the historic trip from Italy to Euro 2025

After years of struggle with the Azzurre, Cristiana Girelli, 35, is the star of an Italian team who makes the story to Euro 2025. The player who sent Italy to the semi-finals with a splint against Norway now dreams of beating England, the defending champions, to reach the Basel final.

If she is a follower in front of the goal, Girelli is also a follower behind the lens.

On July 17, just as Italy had qualified for the semi-finals of the UEFA European Championship for the first time in 28 years, the Italian captain, who marked twice in a 2-1 victory against Norway, was the only one to take the camera to capture a historic photo: that of the return of the Nazional to the few.

And the 35 -year -old Juventus striker, who has already appeared in a UEFA Euros, waited for a long time to do this exactly.

“We did something magic,” She excited at the press conference after receiving her second player in the tournament match. “Being in the top four in Europe is wonderful.”

Italy certainly owes her a debt of gratitude because she scored three of the five goals of Nazional throughout the tournament.

Girelli had already made his mark by scoring against Portugal in the group phase, and she repeated the feat against Norway with a pair of clinical finishes.

At 35 and 84 days old, her display of two goals against Norway makes her the oldest player to mark a Euros or World Cup splint, exceeding Ada Hegerberg.

His status as dean of an Italian team rejuvenated by the arrival of Andrea Soncin also earned him the nickname “Maman” in the team, or “Chef”, more to do with his love of cooking.

Above all, she is an example of self -sacrifice for her teammates, having grown up in Italian women’s football very far from her strength now.

Stay in perfect condition

“Women’s football has developed in all aspects, and with it the requests that made us, in particular in physical terms”, “ summarizes Girelli.

“At Juventus, even if I was already 28 when I arrived, I can say that I became an athlete. Today, I take care of every detail so that I am in the best possible condition on the day of the match.

“The more the years go by, the more you have to push the accelerator to stay in good shape. Every day, I take this opportunity to work on my body.”

She also works on her header capacity. Against Norway, the attacker won seven of the eight air duels.

“Honestly, I do not remember if my head was one of my strengths when I was a child. I think I developed this quality over the years, because I only started playing more goal when I arrived at Juventus,” said Girelli.

“I cross and Girelli marks, often with her head. When I see it in the box, I know that all I have to do is put the ball, and 90% of the time it will put it in the net”, “ Adds Sofia Cantore, who provided the two assists for the Girelli splint against Norway.

“”There are not many like her in the box, “ said the Italian coach, who believes that his number 10 is a “World class player”.

A dream title to pass Italy to the next level

In Italy, the 35 -year -old man has nothing to prove and boasts the most impressive female record in regional football.

Girelli has 10 Serie A with Verona, Brescia then Juventus, nine Italian cuts with the same clubs, a player of the year Award in 2020, 122 caps and 61 goals with the Nazionale, the second most capped player and the third top scorer in the history of the national team.

She was even inducted into the Italian football renowned temple in 2022, joining Alessandro del Piero, her idol.

Having grown up with posters of the 2006 World Cup champion in his room, Girelli is now playing before his eyes.

“He looks at us all the time,” Before the semi-final on Tuesday against England. “He’s a tall man and wished us good luck more than once.”

The captain hopes to join the former legendary Juventus number 10 on the European podium once and for all. A feat that would be unprecedented, given that Italy has never done better than two finals in 1993 and 1997.

“We also have far and we want to continue to believe, we do not want to stop, we do not want to be satisfied with what we already have … We firmly believe that we can get a result against any team.”

Girelli is also aware that a victory against the reigning European champions would bring Italian women’s football to a new level: “Something is happening in Switzerland, I am proud to see the stadiums full and passionate people, I hope that this is only the beginning of something that can also happen in Italy.”

Follow the confrontation in the semi-finals with Flashscore.