Preview: England Women vs Italy Women - prediction, team news, lineups

A place in the Women's European Championship final will be on the line when England Women and Italy Women face off in Tuesday's last-four tie in Geneva. 

The Lionesses booked their place in the semi-finals with a dramatic penalty-shootout success against Sweden, while Italy netted a late winner to see off Norway in the last eight. 

Match preview

England's road to the semi-final has not been as smooth as the one that they enjoyed on their way to lifting the Women's European Championship trophy in 2022.

Sarina Wiegman's side were put on the back foot by a 2-1 defeat against France in their tournament opener, before they recovered with commanding victories over the Netherlands and Wales in their final two group games.

After battling hard to clinch second spot in Group D, England's trophy defence looked set to end when they went two goals down in 25 minutes in Thursday's quarter-final clash against Sweden.

The Lionesses had to wait until the 79th minute for Lucy Bronze to head home from Chloe Kelly's cross, before Michelle Agyemang netted the all-important equaliser just two minutes later to send the tie to extra time and penalties.

England found themselves on the brink on a number of occasions during an eventful shootout, which saw five of the 14 penalties scored between the two sides, before Smilla Holmberg missed the decisive spot kick to keep the Lionesses in the tournament. 

They reigning champions are set to make their seventh semi-final appearance in the competition's history, having progressed from three of their previous six last-four ties, including a resounding 4-0 victory over Sweden at this stage in 2022.

England should be able to take confidence from the fact that they have won four of their previous five games against Italy, with their most recent meeting producing a 5-1 victory in a friendly in February 2024.

Italy have arguably been the story of the tournament, having successfully negotiated their way to their first Women's Euros semi-final since 1997.

Rather than targeting a semi-final, Italy would have entered the tournament with hopes of reaching the knockout rounds after falling at the group stage in 2017 and 2022.

Le Azzurre kicked off the tournament with a crucial 1-0 victory over Belgium, before they were held to a 1-1 draw in their second game against Portugal.

While they may have lost 3-1 to Spain in their final group game, Andrea Soncin's side still did enough to finish second and set up a quarter-final clash against Group A winners Norway, who entered Wednesday's fixture with a 100% record in the tournament. 

Cristiana Girelli opened the scoring in the 50th minute of a gripping contest, before Ada Hegerberg netted a 66th-minute equaliser to quickly make amends for her earlier penalty miss.

Norway appeared to be in the ascendancy, but just as the tie appeared to be heading to extra time, Girelli nodded in a dramatic 90th-minute winner to send her country into their seventh Women's Euros semi-final, with her country starting to dream about winning their first-ever major tournament. 

While Italy have struggled in recent games against England, they will draw inspiration from the fact that they have won five of their six competitive matches, including a 2-1 victory in their most recent competitive encounter in the Women's Euro 2009 group stage.

England Women Women's European Championship form:

England Women form (all competitions):

Italy Women's European Championship form:

Italy Women form (all competitions):

Team News

England captain Leah Williamson will be looking to prove her fitness after being forced off with an ankle problem in the quarter-final triumph.

Wiegman likes to opt for consistency during major tournaments, and she could select the same lineup that has started the last three games if Williamson is passed fit. 

That would mean that Agyemang and Chloe Kelly would have to settle for places on the bench despite making a positive impact in their substitute appearances on Thursday.

As for Italy, Soncin could decide to switch from a back four to three central defenders for Tuesday’s semi-final clash. 

That could lead to a recall for Martina Lenzini, while her Juventus teammate Lisa Boattin could return to feature as the left wing-back. 

Girelli will continue to offer Italy’s main attacking threat, having scored three goals in four matches at the 2025 Women’s Euros.

England Women possible starting lineup:

Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Carter, Greenwood; Toone, Walsh, Stanway; James, Hemp, Russo

Italy Women possible starting lineup:

Giuliani; Lenzini, Salvai, Linari; Oliviero, Caruso, Giugliano, Severini, Boattin; Cantore, Girelli

We say: England Women 3-1 Italy Women

England have not always been at their best in this tournament, but they have ultimately found a way to progress, and we think that they will continue to use their previous experience of winning the competition to get the better of a team that have not been at this stage for 28 years.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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