The road to EURO 2025 began with a strong performance from Italy, who beat the Netherlands 2-0 on MD1 in Group A1. In front of over 4,000 spectators at the Stadio San Vito-Gigi Marulla in Cosenza, Soncin’s side sparkled and hardly let group favourites the Netherlands into the game.

It was a masterclass of technique and tactics, which exemplified the growth of this group and the women’s game as a whole. The first goal came in just the fourth minute through a splendid all-Roma move involving Giugliano and Giacinti, who scored her 26th Italy goal. The second was created by the Inter pairing of Cambiaghi and Bonfantini, who anticipated the goalkeeper’s error and turned it home.

 “The girls were brilliant. They imposed themselves,” said the Azzurre’s head coach in his post-match press conference. “It was vital that we got off to a good start with a performance like that. We were alert at the back and got into the opposition penalty area a lot. We’ll go into our next game brimming with confidence. Thank you to Cosenza for the welcome and we’re proud to have ignited the passion of the fans and the many young girls in the stands.”

The team will return to Coverciano tonight as focus shifts immediately to Tuesday’s game against Finland (18:15 CEST), who lost 4-0 to Norway today. Soncin’s side will travel to Helsinki on the hunt for a second straight win to start the campaign and send a clear message to their rivals in qualifying. Italy want to keep dreaming.

THE GAME.  Soncin went with his usual 4-3-3 for the opener in Group A1, abandoning the more conservative system seen against Spain and England. Bartoli was restored to the starting XI as she joined Boattin on either side of a centre-back pair consisting of Linari and Lenzini. Giugliano started at the base of midfield, supported by Greggi and Caruso. In the attacking trio, Bonfantini and Bonansea were deployed either side of Giacinti. Bonansea started her first game since the game against Spain in Salerno on 27 October. When defending, the two wingers were tasked with tracking back to avoid giving the Dutch too much space.

Italy’s perfect approach paid off as they opened the scoring after just three minutes. After a mazy run, Boattin fed Giugliano, who played a perfect through ball to her club teammate Giacinti to break into the box and fire it home. A perfect understanding between the two Roma players was matched by the perfect attitude displayed by the Azzurre, who controlled the game and forced their opponents to chase the ball. The Oranje threatened Giuliani’s goal for the first time only late in the half, though the Italy shot-stopper twice denied Van de Donk.

The crowd played their part too, waving flags and cheering on their team at the start of the second half. Soncin looked to his bench and sent on Galli and Cambiaghi. Two minutes later, the Inter forward swung a dangerous cross into the box. A slight deflection deceived Kop and Bonfantini was on hand to bundle it over the line to double Italy’s lead. Inter’s 24-year-old capped off a great performance with her second international goal, he first in almost two years.

Soncin made three more changes in the final half an hour to keep the tempo high: Salvai, Bergamaschi and Beccari all came on. Italy kept dominating the game. The Netherlands virtually threw in the towel and almost conceded a third to Giugliano and then Boattin, though on both occasions the hosts were denied by the Leicester City goalkeeper. After the final whistle, Italy’s players, coaches and fans came together to celebrate a marvellous victory.

ITALY 2-0 NETHERLANDS (1-0 ht)
Goals: 4’ Giacinti (I), 59’ Bonfantini (I)

ITALY (4-3-3): Giuliani, Bartoli (68’ Salvai), Lenzini, Linari, Boattin; Greggi (57’ Galli), Giugliano, Caruso; Bonfantini (68’ Bergamaschi), Giacinti (81’ Beccari), Bonansea (57’ Cambiaghi). Subs.: Baldi, Schroffenegger, Di Guglielmo, Oliviero, Dragoni, Severini, Girelli. Coach: Andrea Soncin

NETHERLANDS (4-3-3): Kop; Grant (73’ Jansen), Jannsen, Dijkstra, Brugts; Kaptein, Spitse, Egurrola (81’ Casparij); Pelova (73’ Snoeijs), Beerenstein, van de Donk (63’ Leuchter). Subs.: de Jong, Lorsheyd, Wilms, Hendriks, van Dongen, Olislagers, Baijings, Nijstad. Coach: Andries Jonker

Referee: Ivana Martincic (CRO). Assistants: Sanja Rođak Karšić (CRO) and Maja Petravić (CRO). Fourth Official: Jelena Pejkovic (CRO)

Notes: bookings for Bartoli, Giuliani, Grant, Spitse