Thank you for joining me for this absolute cracker of a match.
That game was my favourite of the tournament so far. It had everything: goals, drama, records and more!
To recap all the action have a read of Peter Lansley’s report below:
Updated
I am having a scout around to see if I can find some quotes, I’m excited to see the reaction to this one!
I’d say France and Germany have been the most impressive at the tournament so far.
So Grace Geyoro for the Golden Boot anyone?
Each goal before this match had been scored by a different scorer and then the midfielder broke a record to become the first women’s Euros player to score a first half hat-trick.
Talk about perfect starts, France are off and running.
Andrew has got in touch and had his say on the Gama challenge, saying: “The red - thought the ref was influenced by the French player holding her face and the previous ugly tackle on the other side. Tackle was late, foot was high, but probably more orange than red.”
Anyone out there think it was a yellow?
The BBC coverage has been so good all tournament but one thing that frustrates me slightly is, after cracking games like this, they cut the reaction short.
They’ve cut the feed here to switch to Wimbledon. They could have pushed the footie BBC Three, I just don’t get it. I want red card reaction, Italian heartbreak. Keep the drama coming.
I was stunned at half-time, I anticipated a French win but not as emphatic as we have seen!
Geyoro has become the first player in women’s Euros history to score a first half hat-trick and Izzy Christensen is impressed.
She told the BBC: “She’s a midfielder and she’s done that. She is a player in the flow. A good start.
“How sharp she is to nick the ball in the midfield and put her game on the front foot.”
Full-time: France 5-1 Italy
Well what a drama fuelled game!
Geyoro scored a first half hat-trick with Cascarino hitting a screamer and Katoto adding another in a record breaking first half for France.
Italy clawed one back in the second through Piemonte but almost had their captain Gama sent off for a dangerous challenge!
France have definitely sent a message in this tournament, they weren’t being talked about a lot before but they will be now.
90+4 min: Sarr almost had a shot but her header goes wide.
Renard heads an Italian chance away but concedes a corner. The ball is cleared but eventually comes back, Peyraud-Megnin saves.
Italy look like they are running down the clock here. It was an embarrassing first 45 but the second half have shown how dangerous they can be.
90 + 2 min: Saved off the line! What a clearance for Bacha as an Italian chance came through and the keeper couldn’t quite get to it.
It seems all the readers, and myself, are in agreement - it was a red!
C-money has tweeted: “Was surprised that Gama’s red was overturned - accidental, yes, but extremely dangerous, particularly with her foot hooking back.”
90 min: Boattin is still receiving treatment and Italy are affectively down to 10.
The Italian is now back on but she was off for a good few minutes.
Six minutes added.
88 min: Another France player is down as Malard holds her leg, play continues and she is back on her feet.
Boattin has a cut to her lip so there’s a break in play and Karchaoui comes off for Baltimore.
And another vote for a red! JR emailed and said: “I thought it was a red card. Not intentional but so late and it endangered the opponent.”
85 min: Bacha comes close to France’s sixth! Her attempt grazes the goal.
We have another vote that Gama’s challenge should have been a red.
Liam said on Twitter: “For me a clear red Clive. Reckless, miles from the ball, foot high. Even after the initial contact she makes sure she takes the opponent down. Very surprised the ref looked at that in real time and overturned it.”
83 min: Giacinti takes too long on the ball and her shot is blocked. France win it back and clear their lines.
Another Italian takes a step too many in her shoot. They need to pull the trigger faster.
80 min: Italy’s second half has been scrappy but affective, can they get another here?
Italian change as Bonansea is off for Di Guglielmo.
Houman has emailed on the potential red from Gama and said: “That was deliberate - I don’t think it’s any coincidence that France’s best two players just got taken down in quick succession, and have had to be substituted now. Definitely a red card.”
78 min: A great cross fed Piemonte who headed home, the muted celebrations are understood given the scoreboard but it was a good goal.
French replacements as Katoto comes off for Sarr and Diani is off for Bacha.
Twins in France has got in touch about their opinion on the red and said: “You said it yourself in the minute by minute - it was dangerous. Red all day long.”
GOAL! France 5-1 Italy (Piemonte, 76)
Italy have pulled one in through the replacement! No celebrations from the Italians though.
76 min: So what do you make of the potential red? Let me know your thoughts
Italy captain Sara Gama was initially shown a red card for this challenge but VAR overturned the decision.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 10, 2022
Correct?
📱 Live on @BBCiPlayer, @BBCTwo, the @BBCSport app and @BBCSounds#BBCFootball #BBCEuros #WEURO2022
75 min: There is an Italian corner but before it gets underway Caruso has gone off for Piemonte.
That is so close for Linari, the ball springs back after Peyraud-Megnin comes out of position and it rolls past her.
72 min: Italy scramble for the ball in the box and it’s a mess! Players down injured but back up and raring to go.
France are now in possession again though, Italy will be asking why they couldn’t play like this in the first half. The second half is 0-0 so far.
69 min: I’m going to try and find a clip of that potential red so you can see it for yourselves, I’m still in two minds about it. It was dangerous but looked accidental.
Italy come forward now, they need to score soon to save some blushes.
67 min: Apologies for that break, wanted to give you all the facts before I updated you!
French changes as Cascarino is off for MAlard and so is Geyoro for Dali.
Updated
66 min: Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.
They are checking this but Gama was shown a red card as she catches Geyoro with her foot on her stomach. The check is long, over two minutes
It is changed to a yellow.
60 min: Cascarino is down now and the entire French squad is around her.
It seems to be her knee giving her trouble, let’s hope she doesn’t follow others who have had knee problems at this tournament.
58 min: That was almost a huge error by Peyraud-Megnin as she punches away and Boattin is close to scoring the rebound!
Girelli is off Giancinti for Italy.
Another risky move from France sees a loose defensive pass played to an Italian! Renard wipes up the mess.
55 min: A challenge goes in on Toletti and a yellow card goes to half-time sub Simonetti.
Perisset hits a rocket of a free kick but Giuliani collects. France come again but Diani slips.
Boattin has gone down and stayed down, she looks like she is in a lot of pain.
51 min: The Italian defence look better but not perfect as they close down France’s latest chance.
They have a great cross as Peyraud-Megnin leaps to save but the chance goes wide.
The French keeper is forced into another save , Italy are slowly building.
48 min: Oh my goodness that was almost another for France but the ball glides across the net.
Italy have a throw in and they need to make the most of every opportunity. Karchaoui pulls a shirt but isn’t penalised for it, the Italians aren’t happy.
Back underway! France 5-0 Italy
France are the first team in women’s Euros history to score five in the first half.
Can they get more? It feels like they will.
El Pibe has tweeted me about the Mourinho comparison to France’s head coach earlier in the blog by another reader and says: “The Mourinho comparison seems ill fitting when Raymond Domenech is right there, and is probably wearing the same outfit as Diacre, to boot.”
Italy have made changes as Rosucci and Simonetti come on for Galli and Giugliano.
I am still shocked, my prediction before the game was 1-0 France.
They obliterated that within 15 minutes and now they are on another planet!
I don’t know how Italy come back from this, they won’t be winning this but they need to stop the bleeding.
Half-time: France 5-0 Italy
I can’t believe I just typed that score, 5-0!
Geyoro has been amazing, Cascarino has been running rings, Renard is great!
But really the Italian defence is a shambles. This could be a huge score at full-time.
GOAL! France 5-0 Italy (Geyoro, 44')
A first half hat-trick for Geyoro! On for the golden boot indeed!
Updated
44 min: And they nearly have a fifth! What is going on with Italy? I know France are higher in the world rankings but this is shocking at the back.
Debra has got in touch and described the French head coach as a ‘Mourinho’.
She said: “Long-time fan of the French National teams, but having the same struggle as Adam. The squad is playing well, but it’s hard to trust a manager who seems to pick fights deliberately with their best players.”
42 min: Giuliani came out to challenge Geyoro but the star taps around her. The player, on her 50th cap, the current leader for the golden boot!
She is the first player of Euro 2022 to score two goals.
I am flabbergasted at how fast that fourth came. I was lauding the screamer from Cascarino, which was beautiful, and then they had another!
GOAL! France 4-0 Italy (Geyoro, 39')
I was describing the other and they’ve scored again.
That’s a howler for the Italian keeper.
GOAL! France 3-0 Italy (Cascarino, 38')
What a screamer! The best goal of the tournament so far?
Updated
35 min: Cascarino works the ball well around the box to win a throw in.
A fun fact for you, the next goal scored for France will be the team’s 200th. If I was in the squad I’d want to be the scorer!
We will have to wait for it though as Diani fouls Boattin. A long ball forward ends in the possession of Peyraud-Magnin.
32 min: The free kick is sloppy and France head away, Italy do get it back but Toletti wins the ball.
Possession exchanges hands until Bergamaschi has a chance. She just can’t control the ball for a good shot.
Italy are ruled offside in another attempt to claw their way back in here. France have started to have less ball here, could the tide turn?
29 min: Italy have a corner but France deal with it well and launch a counter,
Diani is taken down in the box but it doesn’t look like there’s too much in that. Perisset then fouls, Italian free kick.
Riki has got in touch and said: “Italy just seem to be way too narrow. There is tons of space on the wings. Everything for France is coming from there.”
Couldn’t agree more. They need to cover the space and mark Renard!
26 min: Renard’s crosses are pinpoint but sail the entire pitch, what a player she is!
Cascarino has a shot outside of the box but it’s wide. A sloppy pass in the Italian defence sees them concede a throw in.
France on the attack again.
23 min: Jeez Italy almost hit back! Peyraud-Magnin leaps and has a fingertip to a cross which moves it away from the incoming runner.
France take it right back to the other end, they are controlling the majority of this. And wow! That was almost another for France. This could easily be 5-0 by now.
Adam has got in touch via email and said: “WHAT a start we’ve had here. Peyraud-Magnin has been a rock so far; I’ve been really impressed. I love watching keepers catch and hold the shots that bounce just in front of them.
“You can really see the outcome of the hours of training in those moments. Slightly cynically, I don’t really want France to do well this year -- just because I don’t agree with how Diacre approaches player management and relationships, and I’m not sure what else beyond a failure would get the French FA’s attention.
“Nonetheless, it’ll be fascinating to see how far the undeniable talent of the French players can take the team despite Diacre and the talent she’s controversially left at home. How far do you reckon they can get?”
I think the French will get to the semis, especially if they can keep this performance up throughout the tournament!
How far do you think they can go?
19 min: The free kick is dealt with well by Italy but France quickly run the ball back into a good position.
The long crosses in just scream France know how much space Italy leave at the back. They have way too much space here. Diani wins a corner and Toletti takes.
It initially it intercepted but they run it back and Geyoro almost has another! This is a fantastic start for France.
16 min: Italy need to calm here and collect, if not France could run away with this.
We saw in the Switzerland Portugal game that 2-0 doesn’t mean you will lose the match. Italy do need to be the next to score though.
The crosses for France are just beautiful and Katoto would have been seen her name in lights there! Her header drifts across the goal and Giuliani just watches it as it hits the post. Jeez that was nearly three!
Boattin gets a yellow for a challenge, free kick to come ...
13 min: Italian keeper Giuliani pushed away a first attempt but Katoto pounced on the rebound. The shot stopper will be kicking herself for not collecting that.
My prediction of 1-0 has already gone up the spout!
GOAL! France 2-0 Italy (Katoto, 11')
Oh my word that was too easy. Fluid passes and a cracking cross sees Katoto through.
Italy are way too open at the back
Updated
10 min: It has been a cracking start to this match, chances all over the pitch and here come Italy!
Renard cuts out a cross and then Peyraud-Magnin saves a long range shot from Galli.
GOAL! France 1-0 Italy (Geyoro, 8')
Katoto has a shot, hesitant as she thinks she’s offside and then the flag is raised.
Girelli is fouled and so Italy have the first free kick, they decide to build from deep but France quickly win it back.
Possession exchanges hands a few more times but ends in a France chance as a great pass ends in an easy tap in.
Updated
6 min: Renard’s clearance is blocked but Peyraud-Magnin clears but Bonansea comes back with a great shot but the keeper saves!
The forward gets another chance from a corner but Peyraud-Magnin collects.
France run the ball up the other end and Boattin has to cut out a cross from Perisset for a corner. It doesn’t end in a clear chance.
3 min: There’s an early French corner with Toletti the taker, Italy don’t clear it immediately but they do deal with it in the end.
Renard cuts out an incoming ball into the Italian box and they now have a throw in.
But France come away with it and they do well to run around Italian defenders! Toletti crosses in after a battle with the Italian keeper but Diani’s chance goes over the bar. A tasty start!
Kick-off! France 0-0 Italy
Well here we go, one of the most exciting group matches is underway!
Who will get the win here? We will find out soon.
The echo on the BBC is already starting to annoy me so we will see how that goes haha!
Renard has spoken to the BBC ahead of kick-off.
She said: “We obviously have enough quality to go through but our opponents have the same objective.
“We should keep preserving. Keep believing. I’ve always said the Euros is more difficult than the World Cup.”
The teams will be out shortly of the pitch and the anthems will soon be in full voice!
I’m going to predict a France 1-0 win here. Will I be right? We will soon find out.
Who do you think will be the star of this match?
I’m thinking France’s Wendie Renard and Italy’s Aurora Galli will be ones to watch out for. Both have been in fine form of late.
While we wait for the kick-off to get underway, at 8pm, take a look at this.
England’s Jill Scott has spoken about what it means to have a home Euros.
Earlier today in the other Group D match Belgium and Iceland faced off in a 1-1 match.
There was plenty of drama with a missed penalty but it ended all square!
What are your thoughts on the match or on Group D as a whole? Let me know via Twitter or email.
The Guardian have written some in depth analysis for each team this tournament.
For tonight’s teams if you want more information, have a read of France’s here:
And Italy’s here:
Team news is in!
France starting XI: Peyraud-Magnin; Perisset, Tounkara, Renard, Karchaoui; Geyoro, Bilbault, Toletti; Diani, Katoto, Cascarino
Italy starting XI: Giuliani; Bartoli, Gama, Linari, Boattin; Galli, Giugliani, Caruso; Bergamaschi, Girelli, Bonansea
Preamble
France take on Italy as the two teams look to launch their Euro 2022 campaigns.
The French head coach Corinne Diacre is keen to get going and has hailed her caption Wendie Renard. She told L’Equipe: “The problem is that Wendie got injured at the start of the season and we didn’t have her for the qualifiers in October and November.
“She’s only been with us since February but she’s an important person in the squad, with her aura, her experience and her performances. The return of the captaincy to her arm has born its fruits, she is entirely satisfied in that role.”
The French are looking to put the infighting of their squad behind them and focus on lifting the trophy. Their opponents this evening are aiming to scalp their rivals in their opener and Italian head coach Milena Bertolini says they are taking it a game at a time.
“We are taking it game after game, so for now we are focused on France,” she told Uefa. “But we know that to progress we’ll need to beat the others too. Our aim is to progress from the group. To face a strong team like France, we need to go beyond our physical and technical abilities, and to do so we need to be united, and be tactically on point, in Italian fashion.”
