WEGGIS, Switzerland — Cristiana Girelli is having the best tournament of her life at the age of 35, with the Italy striker now preparing to lead the line for the Azzurre in their Women's Euro 2025 semifinal against England.

Her two goals, including a lastgasp winner, sent Italy past Norway and through to the last four of a Euros for the first time since 1997, with the Lionesses up next in Geneva on Tuesday.

And the 122-cap veteran, whose three goals at the Euros have taken her international tally to 61, says Italy's performances in Switzerland show they are capable of competing with the best.

Girelli said on Saturday this would be her last Euros, but added she was undecided whether to hang around for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

Nonetheless, the Juventus forward said that she is relishing Italy's run to the semis.

"Obviously they (the goals) were important because they won us the match, but I don't really like talking about my own performances. I really believe that we all put in a really good display," said Girelli, speaking to reporters at Italy's training camp near Lucerne.

"Before the match we all said that the time had come to not just win, but also to show what we've been capable of doing in the last two-and-a-half years, which we didn't really do in our early matches at the Euros.

"I'm really pleased that, beyond the result, there was a proper performance against a team which, let's not forget, is really good."

Italy qualified from a tough Group B behind world champion Spain after coming into the tournament as potential dark horse, and Girelli is convinced that she and her teammates can give England a bloody nose.

"They're the reigning champions and we have a great respect for them, because they've got players who can change the game when they want to," Girelli said.

"But, we've got this far and we want to keep believing, we don't want to stop here, we don't want to settle for what we already have. We have to believe."

'Play with courage'

Italy rose to prominence after years in the doldrums at the 2019 World Cup when, led by now-retired icon Sara Gama, the Azzurre reached the quarterfinals.

But things turned sour afterwards, and group stage exits at the last Euros and World Cup led to Andrea Soncin replacing Milena Bertolini as coach — a decision taken in August 2023 that has led to a marked improvement.

"We have a lot of faith that we can get a result against any team," said Girelli. "He (Soncin) always tells us to play with courage and to play football because we have the quality to do so, and both the results and performances at the moment show that."

Development of women's soccer in Italy has lagged behind traditional powerhouses like England, Spain, Germany and France, but Girelli is hoping her team's results this summer will lead to renewed interest.

Women's Serie A turned professional in 2022 and no Italian team has ever gone any further than the quarterfinals in the women's Champions League.

During the 2023-24 season, clubs in Italy's 10-team top division averaged over a million euros ($1.2 million) turnover, a 48 percent increase on the previous campaign, while interest has increased among television viewers, with the championship being broadcast on streaming service DAZN.

"We're a bit behind, because, since the 2019 World Cup, the results haven't come, and, as a result, what we created after that wasn't built upon," said Girelli.

"I hope that now, with these results, we can really do more, because what we're seeing in Switzerland is, maybe not unexpected, but something that makes me very proud.

"To see full stadiums, passionate fans and this brilliant atmosphere that we can all feel makes me realize that if you can do something once, you can also repeat it. So, I hope this is just the beginning of something good and that it can also happen in Italy."