After the war with Le Azzurre, 35-year-old Cristiana Girelli is the star of an Italian team making history at Euro 2025. The player who sent Italy to the semifinals with a holder against Norway is now dreaming of beating England, the defense champions, to reach the final in the basis.

If she is capable of the goal, twist is just as capable of lenses.

On July 17, like Italy had qualified for the semifinal of the UEFA European Championship for the first time in 28 years, the Italian captain, who scored twice in the 2-1 victory NorwayIt was the one who took the camera to capture a historic photo: that of the Nazionale return to the spotlight.

And 35-year-old Juventus The attacker, who has already made four appearances in one euro UEFA, had been waiting for a long time to do exactly.

“We’ve achieved something magical,” She was excited at the press conference after receiving her second player of the tour match. “Being in the first four in Europe is great.”

Italy probably owes her a debt of gratitude as she has scored three of the five goals of Nazionale throughout the tournament.

Girelli had already made her mark by scoring against Portugal In the group stage, and it repeated the Feat against Norway with a pair of clinical conclusions.

In 35 years and 84 days, her two -goal screen against Norway makes her the older player to score a Euro or World Cup holder, exceeding Ada Hegerberg.

Her status as Doyenne of an Italian team renewed from Andrea Sonci’s arrival has also gained the nickname “Mother” within the team, or “Cheffe”, more to make her love for cooking.

Above all, she is an example of self -sacrifice for her teammates, having grown up in Italian women’s football much removed from how strong she is now.

Stay in the peak

“Women’s football has developed in all respects, and with it, the demands made for us, especially in physical terms,” Girelli summary.

“In Juventus, even though I was already 28 when I arrived, I can say I became an athlete. Today, I take care of every detail in order to be in the best possible condition on the day of the match.

“The more years go by, the harder you should push the accelerator to stay in good condition. Everyday, I take the opportunity to work in my body.”

She is also working on her steering ability. Against Norway, the striker won seven out of eight air duels.

“Honestly, I don’t remember if my title was one of my strengths when I was a kid. I think I developed this quality over the years because I just started playing closer to my goal when I arrived at Juventus,” Says hot.

“I pass and girelli results, often with her head. When I see her in the box, I know all I have to do is insert the ball, and 90% of the time she will put her in the net,” GAIN Sofawhich provided both assists of Girelli’s holder against Norway.

“There is not much like that in the box, “ said the Italian coach, who believes his number 10 is a “World Class Player”.

A title dream to get Italy to next level

In Italy, the 35-year-old has nothing else to try and pride in the most impressive women’s record in regional football.

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

She even entered the Italian football fame hall in 2022, joining Alessandro Del Piero, her idol.

After growing up with the 2006 World Cup champion posters in her bedroom, Girelli now plays in front of his eyes.

“He looks at us all the time,” She believed before Tuesday’s semifinal against England. “He’s a great man and has wished us more than once.”

The captain hopes to join the former Juventus number 10 legend on the Podium of Europe 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’ve got this away and we want to believe. We don’t want to stop, we don’t want to be happy with what we already have …. We believe that we can get a result against any team.”

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

Follow the semifinal clash with flashscore.