GENEVA –

Team unity helped Italy end its 28-year wait to reach the semifinals of the Women’s European Championship, Italian midfielder Giada Greggi said after the team’s 2-1 quarterfinal win over Norway.

“I think the humility, the fact that we are a united group, showing our qualities, that’s what made this important result, and we brought it home,” Greggi, who came off the bench in the 77th minute of Wednesday’s encounter, said.

The raucous Italian crowd urged its players on, with chants of “forza Italia” and the Stade de Geneve lit up when Cristiana Girelli found the net twice in the second half, including with a 90th-minute winner.

“There were a lot of emotions in that (second) goal,” Greggi said. “It was the whole journey we took, the sacrifices we made and in the end we reached the semifinal.

Defender Elena Linari said the 35-year-old Girelli was an inspiration for the team.

“Now we’re going to put Girelli in a display case to rest for the semifinal — she deserves it all, and she’s such a huge inspiration for us,” Linari said.

It is the first time since 1997 that Italy has reached the semifinals at a European Championship.

“It was achieved with effort and many sacrifices ... today we have shown that we can do very well,” Greggi said.

Before the match, Italy’s coach asked his players to close their eyes and think back to the first time they had touched a soccer ball, Barbara Bonansea said.

“The feeling I have now is exactly the same,” she said. “The stadium was packed, the energy was incredible. This achievement fills my heart.”

Italy coach Andrea Soncin credited past players for paving the way for the current team.

“It’s something that makes me and us totally proud,” a grinning Soncin said. “But history is written by what has been done before, so we must give credit to those who were there in previous years, who, even without these possibilities, have given a boost to the movement. We are reaping the fruits.

“The girls deserve a lot of credit because they have done something exceptional; it is beautiful to discover now that we have entered history, now let’s enjoy it fully and in a few minutes we will start thinking about the semifinals.”

Soncin and his team made the most of the moment. The 46-year-old coach clasped two players’ hands and the team did a celebratory run hand-in-hand toward the Italian fans at the stadium after the final whistle.

“Let’s really enjoy this moment,” he said. “That’s what I asked the girls before the match: to enjoy the moment, this incredible atmosphere. Today was truly electrifying, from the anthem to the celebrations, with all the people. Something unique.”

Norway defended poorly for Girelli’s second goal which proved lethal considering the Juventus striker scored the most headed goals in Europe’s big five leagues this past season.

“This is not just a victory for us, but it truly belongs to everyone, to all of Italian women’s football,” Girelli said.

“But truly, this is a victory for the whole group, for 23 girls, but more so for all those who are at home watching the victory of the entire Italian women’s movement.

“This is really something incredible for the new generation; being among the top four in Europe is a dream come true.”

Norway forward Elisabeth Terland, meanwhile, lamented her team’s failure to capitalize on key moments after a late defensive error allowed Girelli to score her second goal.

“I just think we didn’t take our big moments, even though we had momentum, and they did,” said Terland, who came on in the second half to help Norway chase a second goal. “It’s those moments that win you the game, so unfortunately, it went like that today.”