Dutch carve out a bit of World Cup history
itAlY 0 HollAnd 2
Miedema (70), van der Gragt 80. Holland reached the Women’s World Cup semi-finals for the first time, thanks to headers from Vivianne Miedema and Stefanie van der Gragt.
Prolific Arsenal striker Miedema glanced home Sherida Spitse’s free-kick to break the deadlock with 20 minutes remaining in the sweltering heat of Valenciennes.
Defender van der Gragt secured a deserved Dutch success 10 minutes later, nodding home another Spitse set-piece.
Italy were second-best at Stade du Hainaut and were twice saved by the woodwork while the game remained goalless.
In the build-up to the match, Holland’s request to push back the afternoon kick-off because of the heatwave in France was turned down by tournament organisers.
The searing temperatures resulted in scheduled drink breaks and contributed to a drab, uneventful opening 45 minutes.
Italy, playing their first World
Cup quarter-final since 1991, were the lowest-ranked team left in the tournament and considered by many as this year’s surprise package.
GerMAnY 1
Magull (16)
sweden 2
Jakobsson (22), Blackstenius (48) Two-time World Cup champions Germany suffered a shock exit as Sweden came from behind to win in Rennes.
The Germans had gone ahead through Lina Magull’s acrobatic finish but within six minutes, Sweden had responded when Sofia Jakobsson ran clear on goal and coolly finished.
Stina Blackstenius poked in from close range early in the second half and, despite some German pressure, they managed to hold on to their lead to set up a semi with Holland.