Italy Women are set to finish the season – one where they’ve enjoyed a lot of success – with two friendlies against the Netherlands and Austria. First in the UEFA Ranking and the World Cup runners-up in 2019, the Netherlands will be the visitors to the Stadio Paolo Mazza in Ferrara (kick-off at 17:30 CEST) tomorrow. It’ll be a prestigious clash two years on from when the Dutch ended the Azzurre’s World Cup dreams at the quarter-final stage in Valenciennes, France.

During today’s pre-match press conference Milena Bertolini spoke about the qualities that tomorrow’s opponents possess: “The Netherlands are first in the UEFA Ranking, I thus expect us to be up against a top-quality side that is preparing for the Olympics. We’ve organised a friendly against a strong team because I want my girls to be able to measure themselves up against a certain kind of opponent in order to grow and improve. We need to play to the maximum in all our games, as if all of them were a World Cup final. This is the spirit we have when we take to the pitch, and I expect to see what the girls have always displayed: great motivation and enthusiasm. We need to be very compact, ready to manage the ball well and be precise with the moves we put together. These are vital aspects.”

The Azzurre have great memories of playing in Ferrara: “For us, it’s an important city where we won a very important match against Belgium in World Cup qualifying,” continued the Head Coach. “It’s a stadium we like to play at. Furthermore, we’re happy that a crowd will be present because it means that we’re coming out of this dark period and heading towards normality. Having fans alongside you is wonderful, we’ll have extra energy as a result. This Italy side is changing: young and interesting players are coming through, and these friendlies allow us to give experience to youngsters.”

Sitting alongside Bertolini was Sara Gama: “Tomorrow will be great. We’re very happy that there will be fans: previously, they’ve made the difference here in Ferrara.” As the captain of Italy, Gama is a point of reference for the younger players: “I’ve worn the Italy jersey for many years now. Being an example is more about what you do than what you say, and I like to communicate in my own way with everyone. It’s always a challenge because you need to find new ways of communicating, especially with the younger generations. We mix and learn from each other because they teach me things too. There’s a lot of dialogue.”

After the game against the World Cup finalists (who are returning to Italy almost seven years after the play-off in Verona for the 2015 World Cup), the second of the two friendlies will take place on Monday 14 June. The game, to be played at the WienerNeustadt Arena against hosts Austria, is another fixture ahead of the UEFA Women’s Euros, scheduled for July 2022 in England.

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Roberta Aprile (Inter), Francesca Durante (Hellas Verona), Laura Giuliani (Juventus), Katja Schroffenegger (Fiorentina);

Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (Roma), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Maria Luisa Filangeri (Sassuolo), Sara Gama (Juventus), Martina Lenzini (Sassuolo), Elena Linari (Roma), Beatrice Merlo (Inter), Benedetta Orsi (Sassuolo), Angelica Soffia (Roma), Alice Tortelli (Fiorentina), Martina Zanoli (Fiorentina);

Midfielders: Melissa Bellucci (Empoli), Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus), Norma Cinotti (Empoli), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Giada Greggi (Roma), Marta Teresa Pandini (Inter), Cecilia Prugna (Empoli), Martina Rosucci (Juventus), Martina Tomaselli (Sassuolo);

Forwards: Agnese Bonfantini (Roma), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Sofia Cantore (Florentia), Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Benedetta Glionna (Empoli), Valeria Pirone (Sassuolo), Annamaria Serturini (Roma).

Itinerary (all times CEST)

Wednesday 9 June               
16:45       Press conference: Coach + Captain
17:45       Training at the Stadio Paolo Mazza, Ferrara

Thursday 10 June                  
17:30       Match: ITALY vs. THE NETHERLANDS

Friday 11 June                 
10:00       Training
16:30       Training

Saturday 12 June                   
10:00       Training
17:00       Flight: Bologna to Vienna

Sunday 13 June              
16:30       Training at the WienerNeustadt Arena

Monday 14 June                   
16:30       Match: AUSTRIA vs. ITALY                               

Transfer to Vienna airport and flight back home.