After arriving at Coverciano yesterday evening, the Azzurre held their first training session this morning as they began their preparations for the Algarve Cup. This afternoon, the team will depart for Portugal, where, at 13:00 CET on Wednesday 16 February, they’ll face Denmark at the Estádio Municipal de Lagos in their opening match of the tournament.

In addition to Italy and the Danes, three other teams are taking part: hosts Portugal, Norway and Sweden. It’s a great opportunity for the Azzurre to see what level they’re at, with their second fixture against Norway scheduled for 13:00 CET on Sunday 20 February in Faro.

The tournament will conclude on Wednesday 23 February, when depending on results, Italy will either be involved in the final or a three-way mini tournament to decide positions three down to five.

Tournament schedule (all times in local time - GMT)

Wednesday 16 February
12:00 Denmark vs. ITALY (Estadio Municipal - Lagos)
18:30 Norway vs. Portugal (Estadio Municipal - Lagos)

Friday 18 February
17:00 Sweden vs. Denmark (Estadio Algarve - Faro)

Sunday 20 February
12:00 ITALY vs. Norway (Estadio Algarve - Faro)
17:15 Portugal vs. Sweden (Estadio Algarve - Faro)

Wednesday 23 February
11:00 Final - 1st vs. 2nd (Estadio Municipal - Lagos)
From 10:30 to 13 – Triangular tournament 3rd, 4th and 5th (Estadio Algarve - Faro)

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Rachele Baldi (Napoli Femminile), Francesca Durante (Inter), Laura Giuliani (Milan);
Defenders: Valentina Bergamaschi (Milan), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Lucia Di Guglielmo (Roma), Sara Gama (Juventus), Alia Guagni (Milan), Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elena Linari (Roma), Benedetta Orsi (Sassuolo), Angelica Soffia (Roma);
Midfielders: Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus), Aurora Galli (Everton), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Martina Rosucci (Juventus), Flaminia Simonetti (Inter);
Forwards: Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Sofia Cantore (Sassuolo), Valentina Giacinti (Fiorentina), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Benedetta Glionna (Roma), Martina Piemonte (Milan), Annamaria Serturini (Roma).