Impressive Italy get the job done against China to reach World Cup quarter-final
Italy beat China 2-0 to qualify for the quarter-finals of the women's World Cup in convincing fashion on Tuesday as their dream return to the tournament after a 20-year absence continued.
Valentina Giacinti and Aurora Galli netted either side of the interval to set up a meeting with the winner of Netherlands vs Japan, who play later on Tuesday.
Italy have made it to the last eight of the women's World Cup only once, in the inaugural edition in 1991 when the group phase directly led to the quarter-finals.
China, the 1999 runners-up, enjoyed a good spell before the break but failed to make it count as Italy keeper Laura Giuliani made some good saves.
Milena Bertolini's team were focused from the outset and were rewarded after 15 minutes as Giacinti started and finished the move for Italy's opener.
She broke down the right flank and her cross was met by Barbara Bonansea, who played in Elisa Bartoli.
The fullback's attempt was parried by China keeper Peng Shimeng into the path of Giacinti, who had followed up to stab home from close range.
The Azzurre went close to doubling their tally when Valentina Bergamaschi's fierce angled shot forced Peng to save at full stretch.
China had a couple of chances through Wang Yan but Italy keeper Giuliani stayed alert to preserve her team's lead, as the pressure on her goal increased thanks to some fine creative play by Wang Shuang.
Italy, however, regained the momentum early in the second half when Galli, who had replaced the injured Cristiana Girelli in the first half, found the back of the net with a low 20-metre strike in the 50th minute.
It was her third goal of the tournament, with all three having been scored after she came off the bench.
China pushed to find a breakthrough but Italy's back four were largely untroubled as they kept their opponents at bay until the final whistle.
Some match stats for you
Big win. ������#FIFAWWCpic.twitter.com/Fcgrgth0GC
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) June 25, 2019
FULL TIME!
Job done for Italy! China had chances but couldn't take them and were beaten by the better team. Italy could really do something special in this World Cup.
90 mins+5 - Italy 2 China 0
Giugliano goes down howling in pain after losing the ball to a fair but sturdy slide tackle and spends the next few minutes lying on the floor, almost as if - and I'm not suggesting she is, of course - trying to waste some time. China don't care and play on but another aimless cross hurled into the area comes to nothing.
90 mins +2 - Italy 2 China 0
Superb play by Bartoli! She links a couple of one-twos to get from the corner to flag to the China half, running at pace with space to attack but a teammate takes over and her clumsy touch ends the move.
90 mins - Italy 2 China 0
China fans are booing Galli as Wang bashes into her mid-air. They think Italy are time-wasting. Italy are keeping the ball in wide areas now, slowing things down... or they were before Giugliano spotted Peng out of position and drilled a low shot at the near post! Just wide.
87 mins - Italy 2 China 0
It doesn't look like it's going to happen for China today. They're working really hard off the ball but on it the passing just isn't good enough and they're lacking a cutting edge in the final third. If they were going to score it seems like the mad panic in Italy's defence at the end of the first half was the time to do it.
Still, there's some time and if this World Cup has taught us anything it's that VAR can still make something weird happen.
84 mins - Italy 2 China 0
Italy get the ball forward after some more defending but can't make use of the space they find wide right. China deal with the cross and come forward, winning a free-kick in the Italy half.
81 mins - Italy 2 China 0
Guagni turns a cross behind for another corner but gets lucky and the ball comes off a China player last. Italian fans are dancing and singing in the stands - not for the goal kick, just because they're happy. Unless... maybe they love goal kicks.
78 mins - Italy 2 China 0
Li has a chance to get beyond the centre-backs! The ball bounces awkwardly, Linari misreads it... and Li can't control or win the battle. Time is running out for China here.
75 mins - Italy 2 China 0
China win the ball, move up forward and Song is in a great position on the right wing. Her first touch takes the ball onto her left foot... but she's right footed and the next touch is a rushed pass which is chipped to nobody inside the Italy area other than blue shirts.
China keep up the pressure though and have another corner. That's headed away but lands with Han... who has a volley from distance! It's dipping but bounces in front of the goalkeeper and is an easy save.
73 mins - Italy 2 China 0
Bonansea comes off for Rosucci. Italy are working hard now to press China closer to their own box. These players must be exhausted by now.
70 mins - Italy 2 China 0
It's all a little scrappy now. China sending bodies forward, Italy caught flat-footed as the ball pings around between their defending players. They're trying to play out from the back but China are pressing so high that it's really risky and just takes one bad touch to gift a counter-attack opportunity.
67 mins - Italy 2 China 0
Italy enjoy a brief adventure into the China final third but after a disappointing end to that attack it's straight back to defending. China win a corner. It's hooked in, headed on... and drops wide of the post.
64 mins - Italy 2 China 0
Yao and Song replace Wang (11) and Wang (13). China still have one Wang on the pitch, the previously mentioned number seven who had that shot over the bar. The new players have added to the sense of growing momentum here - Italy aren't safe yet.
3 - All three of Aurora Galli's goals for Italy at the 2019 Women's World Cup have come as a sub, with no other player managing more than one from the bench so far. Cameo. #FIFAWWCpic.twitter.com/0GBpteolcF
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 25, 2019
62 mins - Italy 2 China 0
A diving tackle blocks a shot from Li, who has been China's most dangerous player this evening. China have upped the tempo a bit and are winning the ball in Italy's half again. Wang (7) moves onto her left foot and bends a powerful shot over the bar.
59 mins - Italy 2 China 0
Bartoli is penalised for controlling the ball with her arm inside the area. It seems like China have had the stuffing knocked out of them. Well maybe not knocked, but as though someone has taken a good deal out of it. Like a balloon three days after the party. Substitutions incoming.
56 mins - Italy 2 China 0
Oooooooohhhh Giacinti has gone down in the area! The referee doesn't care but the players want a VAR check and that's exactly what's happening now.
The referee looks annoyed that she had to wait for the replay to be assessed, having already seen the incident at close range. No penalty.
53 mins - Italy 2 China 0
Giacinti just doesn't have the legs to outpace the China back line as another launched ball over the top prompts a race. Italy can sit and counter all game long now. China have to push higher to get at them, which is going to lead to more balls over the top.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!
ITALY SCORE A SECOND!
Italy 2 (Galli 50') China 0
It's the substitute Galli! She's given the ball in a massive zone of space just outside the D, takes a touch and launches a low powerful shot to the bottom corner which is just too fast for the goalkeeper to do anything about. Great strike.
49 mins - Italy 1 China 0
That's a big let off! China are pushing high up the pitch which is leaving space behind the defence and so when Italy do win the ball they're launching it high over the top. A mistake by a centre-back nearly lets Italy in at goal but the forward just can't keep control of the ball and the move fizzles out.
48 mins - Italy 1 China 0
China are set to attack mode. This could be a long half for the Italian defenders. China already winning the 50/50s and going in strong to aerial battles... and Giuliani has picked up where she left off, hitting a horrible pass to her midfielders which almost lets China in!
KICK OFF 2
And we're back. Let's see what changes Italy have made. It looks like they might have gone to a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.
Italy like defending
The home of Catenaccio, it is to be expected that a team of Italian players would opt to sit back and hit on the counter when 1-0 up but China have had 61 per cent of possession and I don't think it's entirely by Italy's choice. If nothing changes for the second half eventually China will surely score.
HALF TIME
This is a good game. Italy deserved their lead but since going ahead have been battered by waves of China attacks and haven't exactly looked assured at the back. That said, for now it's working and China's goalkeeper has been the MVP. China end the half having found space on the right wing time and again - the only thing missing is quality in the final third and final ball.
45 mins +2 - Italy 1 China 0
Italy players keep telling each other to calm down when really they need to just actually calm down. Long passes are being overhit, short ones are being intercepted, China look to be full of energy and know they have the momentum.
44 mins - Italy 1 China 0
Italy could do with half time here, China have them pinned back. At the moment the defending is the equivalent of repeatedly button bashing Square on a Playstation controller to get rid.
42 mins - Italy 1 China 0
Galli came on for Girelli, which might mean a change in shape. Possibly a switch to a 4-4-2 to match China, who are all over Italy at the moment. A free-kick wide right is fired into the area AND IT'S OFF THE POST! Wang (11) touches the ball on and comes back off the woodwork but the linesman had spotted there was an offside anyway.
39 mins - Italy 1 China 0
China are piling the pressure on now, Italy struggling to get out of their own half and losing out on second balls.
Great ball out to the right puts Li in space and she faces up to a marker, darts inside and fires a cross which is dealt with.
Italy are making an early sub... Girelli is subbed. Is she injured?
36 mins - Italy 1 China 0
Gama tries to chip the goalkeeper from miles out but puts it wide. Worth a punt.
Chin get the ball out to the right wing. A stepover and cut onto the left foot frees up the cross to the near post... AND IT MUST BE! Turned behind for a corner.
Liu gets to smash a volley from 25 yards but the goalkeeper saves easily at the far post.
34 mins - Italy 1 China 0
WHAT A SAVE! It should be 2-0. A long ball from the right-back puts Bergamaschi in behind but she is denied by a good save at close range. She struck the shot too close to the middle of the goal there.
33 mins - Italy 1 China 0
Bergamaschi is down in a lot of pain but I'm not quite sure where the damage is. It looked to be a fairly innocuous kick for the ball which has sent her howling but the players are probably thankful for the break in play anyway. It's hot. According to Google, 28 degrees.
31 mins - Italy 1 China 0
Bonansea looks knackered already. She runs with the ball up the pitch but loses control and jogs back like she's just played four hours of five-a-side.
Giacinti is caught full on the foot by a strong slide challenge but seems to be OK. The free-kick is poor.
China are leaving a lot of nasty little tackles on Italy here... and suddenly Giacinti is onside again! She runs behind the defence! Controls, gets to goal and tries to slot the ball into the bottom corner. Wide of the goal! Huge chance.
Aaaaand she was offside anyway.
29 mins - Italy 1 China 0
Good save! Giuliani has to stretch to tip a volley from 25 yards over the bar. It wasn't perfectly struck but the flight of the ball was going to take it over the goalkeeper's head so the save was needed.
Corner to China. Great take by Giuliani. She might be dreadful at kicking today but she's great in the air.
Italy are struggling to get out of their own half at the moment, China have pushed slightly higher up the pitch and are winning the ball back pretty easily.
VAR CHECK
No penalty. The right decision!
26 mins - Italy 1 China 0
China's passing hasn't been great either actually. But now Italy's has put them in trouble again! Both teams making lots of silly mistakes in dangerous areas. China trying to work a move down the left wing, putting Bartoli under pressure but she's overplayed and given it away. The cross comes in, the striker goes to the near post and takes a kick to the head! Gama's foot is high and catches her with studs! This could be a penalty... a really harsh one if it is. Gama was entitle to clear that with her foot - Wang's head was way too low.
23 mins - Italy 1 China 0
Dreadful kick by Giuliani, who hasn't been distributing the ball well at all with her feet. China keep the press on and work the ball around the area but Italy switch into defensive mode like water into ice. Or some sort of quick shifting transformer. Whichever is better.
And then Giuliani shanks her kick again. China will be focusing on making that happen more.
20 mins - Italy 1 China 0
I have to say it. Italy are playing a number seven shirt at right-back and the number two in midfield. This is a crime.
Bartoli has to slide in to get rid of the ball and gives China a corner. Cleared at the near post... and the second phase is chipped straight out for a goal kick by Han.
17 mins - Italy 1 China 0
Bartoli took a real whack from the goalie in the buildup to that goal but she seems to be OK and is back on the pitch after receiving some treatment.
GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!!
That one definitely counts! Giacinti opens the scoring after some horrible defending from China!
Italy 1 (Giacinti 15') China 0
The ball is stolen on the right wing, Giacinti sprints away, crosses, a pass forward is deflected and it looks like the defence can clear but the ball spins through, the goalkeeper lunges towards it and wipes out Bartoli leaving an open goal for Giacinti.
13 mins - Italy 0 China 0
Italy build from the back but China cut it out and eventually win the ball back in their own half. TERRIBLE PASS! Giacinti has just been handed the ball 25 yards out from the goal! She turns, spots the goalkeeper miles off her line and blasts an effort towards the top corner which fizzes wide. A bit more care on that one would have put it on target but she needed pace to beat the retreating goalie. China get away with one!
GOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL - DISALLOWED
Giacinti is onside! She's one on one with the goalkeeper, lines up her shot and finishes! The celebrations are cut short as the offside flag goes up and a brief replay later we can see why.
Correct decision and no need for VAR to slow our day down.
9 mins - Italy 0 China 0
China have started well here. They've got pace in the forward areas but are being blocked out by Italy's strong defenders but look really organised too. They're sat ready to pounce on any Italy mistake inside their half... and it takes a block inside the six yard box to stop another Italian attack from causing damage.
Giacinti has space inside the box moments later but heads a pass out for a goal kick when she had support alongside.
6 mins - Italy 0 China 0
China get forward but a dangerous looking cross goes wide of the far post. Giuliani kicks long, China win possession at halfway and Guagni has to work hard to muscle Gu off the ball and recover.
3 mins - Italy 0 China 0
It's a fairly quiet opening few moments until Wang (13) flies into a challenge on an Italian player inside the China half and is lucky not to hurt her. Free-kick.
It's hit long into the area the goalkeeper doesn't come for it! Defenders aren't sure what to do! Bonansea just can't get a touch to turn it into the net.
KICK OFF
Here we go!
Battle of the anthems
I'm going to give this one to Italy though I feel the fact the country is quite close gives them something of an advantage when it comes to noise levels.
How the teams lineup
This isn't confirmed but looks like it might be how the teams will look on the pitch.
Italy in a diamond with Girelli at the tip, China a straight up defensive 4-4-2.
Cristiana Girelli
There's a player in this match who could be in with a shout for winning the Golden Boot, assuming she scores at least one - probably two - today. Girelli has three goals so far and will be marked tightly by China but if she is able to find the back of the net twice it would put her level with Alex Morgan and Sam Kerr at the top of the charts. Kerr can't score anymore, Morgan definitely can.
Below Morgan and Kerr it goes:
Ellie White (England) - four goals
Cristiane (Brazil) - four goals
Megan Rapinoe (USA) - three goals
Carli Lloyd (USA) - three goals
It does now seem a little unfair that the USA got to play Thailand.
Hello!
Welcome to our liveblog for Italy vs China, a last-16 tie in this ever so exciting World Cup.
The teams are in and this is what they look like.
TEAM NEWS | We gave our teams in Montpellier for the first big game of the day...#ITACHN �������� #FIFAWWCpic.twitter.com/Y9x5eY0eWN
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) June 25, 2019
Italy have been the surprise powerhouse of the tournament so far, finishing above Brazil and Australia in their group with some truly impressive performances. China just edged through with a draw against a rather blunt Spain side and may look to sit deep and frustrate here this evening, hoping to keep Italy's quick attacking players quiet.
"In order to win this last-16 match we need to be better than we've been so far. We need to be more precise, more attentive and focused," said Italy manager Milena Bertolini.
"It will be small differences that decide the match against China - and that's the recipe to win."
One thing we can be sure of is that VAR will be mentioned and may well interfere throughout. I'm a VAR fan but believe its implementation in this World Cup has been shockingly poor. Let's hope for better referee performances in this match. Maybe Mario can help.
Kick off is at 5pm and you can stay with us for all the action.
