In a thrilling turn of events, Iceland's women's national team has pulled off a stunning victory against Italy, booking their place in the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 finals while simultaneously eliminating the Azzurre from contention.
The decisive match saw Iceland triumph 1-0 over Italy in Group B2, with Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir scoring the crucial goal in the 47th minute. This historic result marks Iceland's first-ever qualification for the Women's European Championship through competitive matches.
Heartbreak for Italy
The defeat leaves Italy's women's team facing their first major tournament absence since 2013, a devastating blow for the four-time World Cup participants. Despite fielding a strong lineup including Juventus star Barbara Bonansea, the Italians failed to break down Iceland's determined defense.
Road to Switzerland
Iceland now joins already-qualified Germany in progressing from Group B2 to next year's tournament in Switzerland. The Nordic team's remarkable journey continues after their impressive performance in the 2023 World Cup, where they narrowly missed out on the knockout stages.
Italy, meanwhile, must regroup after this unexpected setback in what was considered one of their most promising squads in recent years. The result raises questions about the future of head coach Andrea Soncin as the team looks ahead to World Cup 2027 qualifying.
