Euro 2025 Semi-Finals: England and Italy Face Off

Euro 2025 Semi-Finals: England and Italy Face Off

Four teams are on the brink of winning Euro 2025, including defending champions England. The final showdown at St Jakob-Park in Basel is set for 27 July. Who will make it?

England's Lionesses will clash with Italy on Tuesday, while world champions Spain will meet Germany on Wednesday in the other semi-final.

Rachel Brown-Finnis, a BBC Sport football expert, has been predicting the outcomes of all 31 games in Switzerland. She accurately forecasted all four quarter-final winners, bringing her success rate to 20 out of 28 matches (71%).

However, you were incorrect about two quarter-final results: Italy's triumph over Norway and Germany's victory against France, with only 26% predicting the latter. Your success rate stands at 18/28 (64%).

With just three matches remaining, can you out-predict Rachel in the semi-finals? Make your predictions below.

Before the tournament, Brown-Finnis accurately selected seven of the eight teams advancing to the knockout stage, including England, her pick to win the tournament.

Semi-final Ties

22 July, 20:00 BST

Stade de Geneve, Geneva

World ranking: 5th vs 13th

Best previous Euros finish: England - winners 2022; Italy - runner-up 1993 & 1997

Live commentary on Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

The quarter-finals were a whirlwind of drama, and both semi-finals promise to be equally thrilling.

The outcome won't solely depend on the best team; various factors will determine the winner, as all four teams have showcased their unique strengths and characteristics.

England's resilience and courage are notable. During my commentary, I likened Lucy Bronze's decisive penalty against Sweden to Stuart Pearce's shot against Spain at Euro 96. Her emotions and national pride were palpable, creating a memorable moment for all who witnessed it, myself included.

I wish I could say this match will be straightforward for England, but it won't be easy.

Before the tournament, a semi-final against Italy would have seemed favorable for England. Back then, I would have confidently predicted a Lionesses victory.

However, the scenario has changed. Italy has grown in confidence throughout the tournament and will be formidable opponents.

Fatigue may play a role, as Italy has had an extra day's rest compared to England, who endured extra-time and penalties. Additionally, Italy's playing style could pose challenges for England.

Italy deserved their quarter-final win over Norway, and their only loss was against Spain in the group stage, where they initially matched them stride for stride.

They eased off against the world champions in the second half due to circumstances in the Portugal-Belgium game, knowing they would advance unless they suffered a heavy defeat.

I expect Italy to start aggressively after seeing Sweden's fast opening against England. While I anticipate England will improve defensively, they must be prepared.

Wiegman will likely have a different strategy for this match, aiming for a strong 90-minute performance rather than a second-half surge like against Sweden.

England needs a cautious start to settle into the game and avoid early mistakes that could encourage Italy's attack. They must avoid defensive errors when under pressure.

This is Italy's first semi-final at a major tournament since 1997, and they will feel they belong on this stage as much as England. Scoring first would boost their confidence, but I hope England starts on the front foot.

Italy might prefer extra-time, knowing England has more minutes in their legs, but I believe the match will conclude in normal time.

It will be a challenging 90 minutes for Lionesses fans and players, but I back England to secure victory.

Brown-Finnis' prediction: 2-1

23 July, 20:00 BST

Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich

World ranking: 3rd vs 2nd

Best previous Euros finish: Germany - Eight-time winners between 1989 & 2013; Spain - semi-finals 1997

Watch live on BBC One, iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website; live commentary on Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

I anticipated Germany would edge out France, and they did, in a thrilling quarter-final.

As a goalkeeper, I admired Ann-Katrin Berger's performance, especially her outstanding save against team-mate Janina Minge's backward header.

Berger's athleticism and determination were crucial in keeping the ball out, adding to an already exciting game. Germany, down to 10 players, eventually triumphed on penalties, with Berger again the hero.

Overall, Germany's team performance epitomized their progress in Switzerland, where they have faced both challenges and successes. Despite setbacks, they found ways to win against France.

Their response after Kathrin Hendrich's red card was remarkable, showing no signs of France's numerical advantage. Credit goes to manager Christian Wuck for reorganizing the team and the players' resolve.

Like England, Germany knows how to navigate matches, understanding that winning isn't always about style.

This makes them formidable opponents for Spain.

Spain, the world champions, remains unbeaten, having won all their matches so far. They've scored 16 goals in four games and dominated...

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