Next up …
Kieran Pender was in Valenciennes to watch the Dutch earn a quarter-final place courtesy of two headed second-half goals. Here’s how he saw the match unfold …
The Dutch advance: Following a fairly evenly matched first half in which Italy squandered several good chances, the Netherlands completely outclassed their opponents in a second half in which Italy grew increasingly frustrated and gave away one free-kick after another.
It was from two of these set-pieces that the winning goals came from, with Vivianne Miedema and Stefanie van der Gragt getting on the end of Sherida Spitse crosses to nod their country through to the last four.
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeeeeep! It’s all over and the Netherlands have qualified for a semi-final in Lyon, where they will play either Germany or Sweden.
90+5 min: Italy goalkeeper Giuliani finally gets an opportunity to launch the ball up the pitch, but despite the best attempts of Italy’s outfield players, they can’t make anything happen.
90+4 min: The Netherlands win a free-kick deep in Italy territory, down near the flag. To nobody’s great surprise, they choose not to send in a cross, preferring to roll the ball even nearer the corner flag and try to keep it there.
90+2 min: Italy win a throw-in deep inside their own half, an area of the field in which their opponents are quite happy to keep them as the clock ticks down.
90 min: We’ll have five additional minutes for Italy to try to save themselves. It’s a tall order for a side who simply haven’t been able to cope with the conspicuously increased tempo of their opponents since half-time.
87 min: Double-Dutch substitution: both goalscorers come off – Vivianne Miedema and Stefanie van der Gragt make way for Anouk Dekker and Jill Roord.
86 min: The TV camera cuts to the Italy bench, where one of the substitutes is sobbing uncontrollably.
84 min: Nothing comes from the Italy corner, lthough Van Veenendaal was less than convincing as the ball came her way after her defenders had cleared the initial danger. Moments later at the far end of the pitch, Netherlands striker Lieke Martens shoots over from a good position.
83 min: Italy corner after a decent save from the Dutch skipper, Van Veenendaal, who got down well to save at the feet of Giacinti.
82 min: Miedema blasts high over the bar after being put through and handed an opportunity to hammer another nail into Italy’s World Cup coffin.
The Netherlands double their lead. Another free-kick in a dangerous area, another goal for the Dutch. Spitse was the provider drom the right wing and Stefanie van der Gragt rose highest to send an unstoppable bullet header past Giuliani.
78 min: Play resumes with a Dutch corner. Spitse sends the ball into the mixer, but Italy half-clear. A throw-in for the Netherlands, deep in Italy territory.
75 min: Italy substitution: Annamari Serturini replaces Valentina Bergamaschi. It’s time for another drinks break and in the case of the Italians – a much needed pep talk from their coach.
74 min: Valentina Cornoia becomes the third Italian to be booked as she fouls Beerensteyn to concede a free-kick in a dangerous position on the inside right channel. Sherida Spitse is unable to make it two assists in quick succession and overcooks her delivery on this occasion.
72 min: It had been coming for a while and seemed increasingly likely as an Italy team that is beginning to look very disjointed kept conceding free-kicks in dangerous areas. On that occasion, Spitse curled the ball across through the corridor of uncertainty and Miedema leapt highest to score with a very deft glancing header.
Well colour me psychic, the Netherlands have the lead! From the free-kick, taken by, Sherida Spitse, Vivianne Miedema steers a lovely glancing header inside the far post to score her 61st goal for her country.
68 min: With just over 20 minutes of normal time remaining, it seems like only a matter of time before the Dutch score. They’ve completely outplayed their Italian opponents since the start of the second half and now have a free-kick wide on the left.
65 min: Free-kick for the Netherlands on the right, between the edge of the Italy penalty area for a Guagni foul on Beerensteyn. The Italian full-back is booked, possibly for dissent. From a good position, Merel van Dongen curls the ball wide of the far post.
62 min: Manuela Giugliano gets a ticking-off for dissent after conceding a free-kick about 35 metres from her own goal. Sherida Spitse tries to have go and leathers the ball goalwards. It swerves wide of the left upright through a thicket of legs.
61 min: Beerensteyn, the substitute, shoots high over the bar as the ball bounces kindly for her on the right-hand side of the Italy penalty area.
60 min: Desiree van Luneteren wins a free-kick for the Dutch after being tripped by Valentina Bergamashi on the touchline, just by the halfway line.
58 min: From a corner, the Dutch go close again. A corner is only half-cleared, but drops kindly for Danielle van de Donk on the edge of the Italy penalty area. She tees the ball up for a shot, then attempts to curl a shot into the top right-hand corner. With the Italian goalkeeper beaten, the ball rattles the cross-bar. The Netherlands are bossing this game completely at this stage.
55 min: Lieke Martens dribbles at the Italian defence and unleashes a shot, bringing a smart save out of Laura Giulani. Italy substitution: Daniella Sabatino on for Barbara Bonansea. Netherlands substitution: Lineth Beerensteyn on for Shanice van de Sanden.
52 min: The Dutch are completely dominating this second half and miss another two good chances in quick succession. Jackie Groenen has a shot from inside the penalty area blocked by Gama, when she should have passed to the unmarked Miedema. Moments later, with the goal gaping, Miedema stretches but fails to get on the end of a low ball from Van Lunteren played square across the edge of the six-yard box.
51 min: Lieke Martins chests down a cross from the right and volleys the ball towards the bottom left-hand corner. She doesn’t get quite enough welly on the ball and Laura Giulani gets down to make the save.
49 min: Unmarked in the Italy penalty area, Vivianne Miedema leaps to try to convert a Van de Sanden cross from the right. The ball’s a little too high and she can’t keep her header down.
49 min: Sherida Spitse tries a shot from distance and it’s a decent effort. Linari blocks with her head.
47 min: Shanice van de Sanden squares the ball from the right flank, but Sara Gama is on hand to intercept and clear for Italy. She and Elena Linari have not put a foot wrong in the heart of the Italy defence so far in this match.
46 min: Giacinti attempts to geta cross into the Netherlands penalty area from the inside right channel, but her delivery is blocked by Bloodworth.
46 min: Italy get the ball rolling for the second half, with no changes in personnel on either side.
Kieran Pender is in Valenciennes for the Guardian: “The Italians, as they have in every World Cup match so far, are playing patiently and exhibiting impressive defensive solidity,” he says, donning his big hat o’punditry. “Italy has conceded just twice in France, both from the penalty spot, and this defence is posing a real test for the Netherlands’ start-studded attack. It is really really hot in Valenciennes, and the decisive question may well be whether Italy’s back-line can withstand the heat-induced fatigue later in the match.”
The deadlock remains unbroken as the players head in for their half-time refreshments. Perhaps understandably, because of the heat in Valenciennes, the game hasn’t been much of a spectacle, but it’s Italy who have had the three best scoring opportunities, with Valentina Bergamaschi missing the pick of them.
45+4 min: Galli tries to play Giacinti into the Dutch penalty area with a cleverly weighted pass, but the dtriker is not quick enough to get to it before Netherlands goalkeeper Van Veenendaal.
45+2 min: Good defending from Italy, who keep their shape well to prevent Barbara Bonansea getting on to a neat penalty area dink from Vivianne Miedema and slipping the ball past Laura Giulani from a few yards out.
45 min: We’ll have five minutes of added time to make up for the drinks break. The Netherlands attack down the right flank, but their efforts are in vain as Shanice van de Sanden over-cooks yet another cross. Her end product today has been very poor.
44 min: There’s a break in play as Danielle van de Donk gets treatment for some injury or other. She’s passed fit to continue and the game follows suit.
42 min: With the free-kick, Sherida Spitse shoots low and hard, aiming for the bottom right-hand corner. Her effort is decidedly lacking in anything resembling venom and Laura Giulani saves comfortably.
40 min: Free-kick for the Netherlands on the edge of the Italy penalty area as Miedema ships a push in the back from Elena Linari as she tries to latch on to a long ball from deep. The blonde Italian gets a yellow card for her troubles.
Possession stats: Italy 39%-61% Netherlands. The Netherlands may be dominating in that department, but it’s Italy who have had three excellent scoring chances.
37 min: Another chance goes a begging for Italy, as Valentina Giacinti gets in behind the Dutch defence to pick up a pass from Bergamaschi and send a low diagonal shot across the face of goal but a couple of feet wide of the far upright. She’d wrong-footed the goalkeeper and would definitely have scored if her effort had been on target.
34 min: Vivianne Miedema chases a looping pass up the centre, but Alia Guagni is on hand to prevent the Dutch forward getting to it.
34 min: Play resumes, with the players and match officials all sufficiently rehydrated.
30 min: Trebles all round! In sweltering conditions, the players of both teams adjourn to the touchline for their official Fifa-sanctioned drinks break.
29 min: For the Netherlands, Vivianne Miedema beats Sara Gama with a soft-shoe shuffle on the edge of the penalty area and attempts to chip the ball over Laura Giulani. Her attempt at a finish is poor and the goalkeeper saves easily.