Netherlands beat Italy to book semifinal spot

Second half headers from Vivianne Miedema and Stefanie van der Gragt earned the Netherlands a 2-0 win over Italy in their women's World Cup quarterfinal in Valenciennes on Saturday.

The Dutch, who qualify for the last four of the tournament for the first time, will face the winners of Saturday's other quarterfinal between Germany and Sweden in Rennes.

Italy had the better of the chances in the first half but the European champions stepped up their game after the break and both goals came from set-piece deliveries from Sherida Spitse.

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Defending World Cup champions the United States will face England in the opening semifinal on Tuesday in Lyon with the second semi on Wednesday.

Netherland's left-sided playmaker Lieke Martens was passed fit to play despite suffering a foot injury, picked up in goal celebrations in the previous round.

Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images

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With the venue only a two hours drive away from the Dutch border, the 22,600 crowd was mostly decked in Orange in the bright sunshine.

But despite those boosts, the Dutch initially struggled to create openings against an Italian defence well marshalled by captain Sara Gama.

The Azzurre had the first real chance when Barbara Bonansea's flick-on found Valentina Bergamaschi in the area but the midfielder's lob was too easy for Dutch keeper Sari van Veenendaal.

Bergamaschi had another chance when, after a smart interchange won her space in the box, she scuffed her shot and then moments later, from a promising position, Valentina Giacinti pulled her shot wide.

The Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman clearly took advantage of the break to address their problems and it was a very different approach after the interval.

The introduction of Lineth Beerensteyn for the out-of-sorts right-winger Shanice van de Sanden also helped the Dutch step up the tempo but when the breakthrough came in the 70th minute it was from a set piece.

Spitse, from wide on the left, whipped in a fine, high cross and the towering Miedema timed her run and jump perfectly beating Laura Guiliani with a deft glancing header.

Ten minutes later the game was put beyond the Italians when Spitse, this time from the right, delivering a firm, flat cross which defender Van Der Gragt met with a firm header.

Italy had nothing left in the tank and it was cruise control from then on from the Dutch, who will now fancy their chances of reaching the final for the first time.