The Azzurre will be aiming to end the year on a high with two wins, continuing their preparations for the World Cup next year in the best possible way. A month since the defeat by Brazil, they are ready to get back into action to close out 2022 with two friendlies. They will first face Austria at stadio Guido Teghil in Lignano Sabbiadoro on Friday 11 November at 17:30 CET (live on Rai 2), and two days later will fly to Belfast where they will play Northern Ireland on Tuesday 15 November at 20:30 CET (live on Rai Sport HD).

The first leg of this journey, that will eventually take the Azzurre to New Zealand next summer, where they will play their three group games against Sweden, Argentina and South Africa, will start off in Lignano Sabbiadoro. The small town in Friuli-Venezia-Giulia will host its first-ever Italy game, with the Austrians coming to town. There have been five previous meetings between the two sides, with four victories for Italy and one draw. Thanks to an excellent Euro 2022, ending at the quarter-final stage, Austria are ranked 19th in the FIFA World Rankings. Tickets for the game will go on sale on Friday at 12:00 CET, with affordable special prices expected and reduced-priced tickets for Under 18s.

The Azzurre will meet up at Coverciano on Sunday to prepare for their two games, with 25 players being selected. There is a return to the squad for Schroffenegger, the three Roma players Bartoli, Linari and Giugliano, and the Juventus duo Bonansea and Girelli, who had missed the game against the Seleçao due to fitness concerns. After a period out of the group, there's also a return for Serturini, but Gama is still out after sustaining a muscle injury to the left thigh in her last league match.

Media accreditation: Accreditation requests for the game in Lignano Sabbiadoro for the media are now open, until Tuesday 8 November at 12:00 CET, exclusively through our online electronic system at www.accreditations.figc.it. Requests may only be made after registering on the FIGC Accreditation portal.

Squad List

Goalkeepers: Francesca Durante (Inter), Laura Giuliani (Milan), Katja Schroffenegger (Fiorentina);

Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (Roma), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Federica Cafferata (Fiorentina), Maria Luisa Filangeri (Sassuolo), Elena Linari (Roma), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Alice Tortelli (Fiorentina);

Midfielders: Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus), Aurora Galli (Everton), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Benedetta Glionna (Roma), Giada Greggi (Roma), Martina Rosucci (Juventus), Annamaria Serturini (Roma), Flaminia Simonetti (Inter);

Forwards: Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Agnese Bonfantini (Juventus), Sofia Cantore (Juventus), Valentina Giacinti (Roma), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Elisa Polli (Inter).