The Women’s National Team camp continues with smiles, training and practice on the ball against a backdrop of the mountains in Brunico. The Azzurre will play a key game in their EURO 2025 qualifying campaign.

On Friday at 20:45 CEST (live on Rai Sport) in Sittard, a small city in the south of the Netherlands, close to the borders of Belgium and Germany, Italy will face the Oranje who lead Group A1 on 7 points. The hosts would secure qualification with a win with a game to go. On the other hand, Soncin’s side has to get a result to still be in with a chance to qualify against Finland, given that they sit third in the group standings.

The group is tight, on and off the pitch, and can’t wait to face Beerensteyn and co. who they beat 2-0 in the group opener (goals from  Giacinti e Bonfantini). When met with the Dutch physical strength and the runs of Andries Jonker, the Azzurre will bring dribbling, technique and unpredictable counters, strengthened by the collective. Katja Schroffenegger spoke on this as she answered questions from reporters at this morning’s training camp: "We are working well and the mood in the dressing room is perfect. We are fired up and we are preparing in the best way possible", said the Fiorentina goalkeeper, focused like everyone else on the upcoming match, even if eyes are turning to the clash in Bolzano on Tuesday, July 16 (19:00 CEST, live on Rai Sport).

The 33-year-old from Bolzano fell in love with this sport and this shirt 20 years ago when Italy played their first and only game at the Stadio Druso, a friendly that ended 5-0 to Germany. Despite the result, Katja remained fascinated by the players that evening. She added: “I remember that I was a young girl with many dreams and when I saw the players on the pitch, I told myself that I would get there one day too”. As it was said, so it would be done. From being a fan in South Tyrol to wearing the Italy shirt: “It’s a dream come true. A milestone that I fought for every day, to be here. It fills me with joy”.

Next Tuesday, when her name is announced in the stand it will be “an indescribably feeling”, with her family in the stands. But before the National Team returns to South Tyrol they must focus on the fixture that they’ve been preparing for for two weeks now. Concentration, desire to go again after two unlucky draws against Norway. All together towards qualification.

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Rachele Baldi (Fiorentina), Laura Giuliani (Milan), Katja Schroffenegger (Fiorentina), Margot Shore (Hellas Verona);

Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (Roma), Valentina Bergamaschi (Juventus), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Lucia Di Guglielmo (Roma), Maria Luisa Filangeri, Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elena Linari (Roma), Elisabetta Oliviero, Julie Piga (Milan), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Angelica Soffia (Milan);

Midfielders: Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Giulia Dragoni (Barcellona), Aurora Galli, Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Giada Greggi (Roma), Eva Schatzer (Juventus), Emma Severini (Fiorentina);

Forwards: Chiara Beccari (Juventus), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Agnese Bonfantini (Juventus), Michela Cambiaghi (Inter), Sofia Cantore (Juventus), Michela Catena (Fiorentina), Valentina Giacinti (Roma), Benedetta Glionna (Roma), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Martina Piemonte (Everton), Annamaria Serturini (Inter).

Calendar, results and table of Group 1 (League A)

Matchday 1: ITALY 2-0 Netherlands, Norway 4-0 Finland

Matchday 2: Finland 2-1 ITALY, Netherlands 1-0 Norway 

Matchday 3: Norway 0-0 ITALY, Netherlands 1-0 Finland 

Matchday 4: Finlandia 1-1 Netherlands, ITALY 1-1 Norway

Matchday 5 (12 July): Netherlands vs. ITALY (20:45 CEST, Sittard), Finland vs. Norway (19;00 local time, 18:00 CEST, Turku)

Matchday 6 (16 July): ITALY vs. Finland (19:00 CEST, Bozen), Norway vs. Netherlands (19:00 CEST, Bergen)

Table: Netherlands 7 points, Norway and ITALY 5, Finland 4