The mercury crept up to 34C in Valenciennes, where the Dutch prevailed 2-0 thanks to second-half headers from Vivianne Miedema and Stefanie van der Gragt, with both players getting on the end of Sherida Spitse free-kicks.
It was an energy-sapping heat, which certainly impacted the game.
Two cooling breaks were ordered by referee, Claudia Umpiérrez, with one taking place on the half hour mark and the second coming 15 minutes from time, to give players much needed additional opportunities to take on board water.
Italy’s Aurora Galli and Alia Guagni are doing just that in this picture from the first half, but the tournament’s surprise package tired in the second 45-minutes and heat no doubt played a part as the Netherlands edged their way into the last four.
