Euro 2025: Unbeaten Spain overcomes Italy which also advances to quarterfinals

BERN, Switzerland (AP) — Tournament favorite Spain came from behind to beat Italy 3-1 on Friday and swept through its group for the first time at a Women’s European Championship.

Italy lost but also advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in 12 years.

Italy had the audacity to take a 10th-minute lead against the 2023 World Cup champion on defender Elisabetta Oliviero’s shot, soon after captain Elena Linari struck the crossbar with a header.

Spain leveled within four minutes, led from the 49th, and added Esther González's tournament-leading fourth goal in stoppage time.

Still, Spain had enough problems in defense handling the Italians, who had 13 attempts on goal, to give host Switzerland some hope for their quarterfinal in one week.

“We knew the most difficult game in the group would be Italy," Spain coach Montse Tomé said in translated comments. “These kinds of games demand that you are very alert.”

Italy finished runner-up to Spain in the group because Portugal, which was third in the standings at the start of play, lost to Belgium 2-1 when needing a lopsided win.

"I know it was a defeat but we gave everything on the pitch and we knew the only goal we had was to go forward,” said goalkeeper Laura Giuliani, who played her 100th game for Italy.

Norway awaits Italy in the first quarterfinal on Wednesday in Geneva, and it will be Spain-Switzerland two days later in Bern.

Spain's first two goals were created by the skipping feet and dribbling runs of winger Athenea del Castillo, who got her first start of the tournament.

She leveled in the 14th, finishing a move she started with a right-foot shot curled into the top corner.

After Del Castillo’s driving run across the face of the Italian defense in the 49th, the ball sat up for Patri Guijarro to snap a shot low into the bottom corner.

Spain also gave a first start at Euro 2025 to Aitana Bonmatí, two weeks since the two-time Ballon d'Or winner was hospitalized by viral meningitis.

“She did a good job," Tomé said. “She came from a complex situation. It’s not easy for her.”

By scoring three goals on Friday, after a 5-0 win against Portugal and 6-2 against Belgium, Spain tied England’s tournament record of 14 in a group set at Euro 2022. England went on to win the title.

Spain rested regular starters ahead of the quarterfinals including both defenders who are one yellow card away from a suspension, Laia Aleixandri and Ona Batlle.

Teenage star Vicky López, González and Clàudia Pina also were rested, making space for Bonmatí to get more game time.

Spain gifted Italy its short-lived lead when a heavy touch by forward Mariona Caldentey in her own penalty area simply teed up the ball for Oliviero. The Italian right back had time and space to pick her spot.

Spain was level within four minutes. Alexia Putellas’ third assist — tying the tournament lead — was a smart back-heel flick returning the ball into the path of the hard-running Del Castillo.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Spain's Esther Gonzalez scores her side's third goal past Italy goalkeeper Laura Giuliani during the Women's Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Italy and Spain at Stadion Wankdorf in Bern, Switzerland, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Italy's Elisabetta Oliviero, on the ground, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Women's Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Italy and Spain at Stadion Wankdorf in Bern, Switzerland, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Italy's Elisabetta Oliviero, background left, scores the opening goal past Spain goalkeeper Adriana Nanclares during the Women's Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Italy and Spain at Stadion Wankdorf in Bern, Switzerland, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Spain's Athenea, right, scores her side's first goal during the Women's Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Italy and Spain at Stadion Wankdorf in Bern, Switzerland, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Spain's Athenea celebrates with Mariona Caldentey, left, after scoring her side's first goal during the Women's Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Italy and Spain at Stadion Wankdorf in Bern, Switzerland, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Spain's Patri Guijarro, center, celebrates after scoring her side's second goal during the Women's Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Italy and Spain at Stadion Wankdorf in Bern, Switzerland, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)