Since Andrea Soncin took charge after the 2023 World Cup, Italy have never won two consecutive competitive fixtures. For 96 minutes on Tuesday night, they were on course to put that right.

Having disposed of Norway in the quarter-finals of Euro 2025, the Azzurre led England through Barbara Bonansea’s goal heading into the seventh and final minute of injury-time.

A first major final in 28 years beckoned. Or so it seemed, until Michelle Agyemang conjured another stunning rescue act, firing home the equaliser after scoring the goal that had drawn England level late on against Sweden in the quarter-finals.

Having repelled wave after wave of Lionesses attacks, Italy finally buckled as Laura Giuliani spilt a cross, allowing Agyemang just enough space and time to keep England’s bid to defend their title alive.

Giuliani looked to have redeemed herself when she saved Chloe Kelly’s 119th-minute penalty, only for the England striker to tuck away the rebound.

Three days after Italy had been the beneficiaries of late heroics against Norway when Cristiana Girelli netted a last-minute winner, here they were twice crushed as the clock ticked towards the whistle.

Girelli, who had come off halfway through the first half with a hamstring injury, was inconsolable. At 35 years old, the Juventus veteran had already indicated this would be her last appearance at the Euros, possibly at a major tournament.

She could not have done more to drag Italy to their first final since 1997, scoring three goals in four matches. If this was to be her last game for Italy, a legacy of 61 international goals in 125 caps for her country speaks for itself.

As does Italy’s journey at Euro 2025. The Azzurre arrived in Switzerland as dark horses on the back of winning their qualifying group and finishing second in their UEFA Nations League. And they lived up to expectations.

Having beaten Belgium in their tournament opener, only an 89th-minute equaliser against Portugal prevented them from securing qualification for the quarter-finals with a game to spare.

Defeat by Spain proved inconsequential and Italy more than held their own against the world champions, as they did against England, a side eight places above them in the FIFA rankings.

“We feel immense pride,” Soncin said. “The girls should be proud of what they’ve achieved. While it hurts to go out this way, matching the champions gives us great belief moving forward.

“There are no words to describe the emotions; we certainly deserved a different outcome. It’s disappointing, but we are very proud.”

It is worth remembering that Soncin was a puzzling choice to replace Milena Bertolini after the 2023 World Cup. Up until Italy’s call came, his only experience of managing at senior level consisted of two caretaker spells in charge of Venezia, which returned one win and three defeats in six games.

But the 46-year-old has proved doubters wrong in the past two years. Under Soncin, Italy have beaten Spain, Denmark and the Netherlands, finished top of their qualifying group for Euro 2025 and second in their Nations League group.

The Azzurre‘s performances in Switzerland underlined they are a team on an upward curve.

“Playing a match like that for 120 minutes against the champions, especially when everyone had written us off, truly shows the level women’s football is reaching,” Soncin said.

“So many steps forward have been made, and we can still improve. That’s another victory in itself. It’s a shame because we were so close to our dream of playing in the final, and perhaps, for what we showed, we might have even deserved it.”

Once the dust settles on defeat by England, the logical question is where next for women’s football in Italy? The peninsula may be obsessed with calcio, but women’s football in Italy only turned professional three years ago and it remains way behind England, France, Spain and the Scandinavian countries in terms of attendances and interest.

A generational change is also under way, with Girelli and fellow veterans Bonansea and Giuliani, 34 and 32 respectively, entering the winter of their careers.

In Sofia Cantore, who joined NSWL club Washington Spirit this year, and Arianna Caruso, who won the German double with Bayern Munich last term, Italy have players ready to pick up the baton and lead the next generation.

It is six years since the Azzurre reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup after finishing ahead of Australia in their group. It was supposed to be the start of an exciting new era, instead it proved to be anything but.

Thrashed 5-1 by France in their opening fixture, Italy finished bottom of their group at Euro 2022 with just one point and were knocked out in the group stages of the World Cup a year later.

If they are to achieve Soncin’s dream of playing in a major final, Italy cannot afford to squander the legacy of Euro 2025.