Salerno is ready to host Italy and the World Cup champions. This afternoon, the Women's National side carried out their final training session at the stadio Arechi, which will welcome the 2nd-best FIFA ranked side in the world, and Group 4 leaders in the Nations League, tomorrow at 17:45 CEST (live on Rai 2). It is a big test for Andrea Soncin's side, who will be looking to prove themselves once again - as shown in Castel di Sangro a month ago - against the strongest teams.

“It's a presotgious match," said the Head Coach in the game's presser, "and the girls should be proud to play in it. We respect how good our opponents are, but we're confident that we can cause problems to them. There's still a hint of disappointment for the defeat to Sweden, but those 90 minutes gave us great awareness. We want to pick up points tomorrow.”

The Azzurre will be looking to carry on their development in the best possible way, which started off with a good win in Switzerland. “We're trying to keep things more logical compared with the first training camp," added Soncin. "The idea is to get to a position where we can control the game, but we need to realise our strength when there's the need to defend. The players must be guided and given belief; they all have excellent skills and they can show it in these two upcoming games."

Taking a look at previous meetings, Italy have a better record over the Spaniards, but the recent and rapid growth in the Women's movement in Spain, culminating in a World Cup triumph in August., has been relentless. What has impressed the Azzurre Head Coach most is their team play, “which enhances the players' individual qualities” available to Montse Tomè. “Yoo have to expect that you can't be in control of every situation in every moment of the game, but there will be plenty where you can. We'll need to be compact and have the right distances to be able to get out of their press. We might give possession away in some circumstances, and in others we'll try and win the ball back high up the pitch. We have the weapons to play well."

After missing the opening two games due to injury, Lisa Boattin has come back into the group and is ready to try and reach 55 caps for the National side, after taking confidence in the new staff's methods in this first part of the camp: “The staff are well-prepared and what has impressed me the most is the calmness we're working with. This is the main difference compared to the past and I'm sure that this harmony will give us the confidence to face every opponent in the strongest possible way. We've been training well and working on every minute detail these last few days. We want to show what a good team we are because these are the games we want to play in as footballers; it pushes us more and helps us to grow and become better."

The Juventus full-back is going back the stadium where she lifted the Coppa Italia in June for her club side: “I have great memories of this place. We received a really warm reception from the city and its people. I hope they can come out and support us for the whole game tomorrow, too. Their backing will be very important; please come and support us." Salerno has repsonded to the call with over 4,000 tickets being sold, and they can still be purchased right up until kick-off at Vivaticket sales points and online at figc.vivaticket.it and vivaticket.com.

INITIATIVE. For the game with Spain, the Azzurre is supporting Komen Italia in its "La Prevenzione è il nostro capolavoro" campaign. The national tour that is promoting health, through a travelling mobile unit, and which is offering an ever-growing public free awareness and cancer prevention information, will be available between 26 and 29 October from 9:30 to 16:30 CEST in Piazza della Concordia in Salerno. As such, the Federal Technical Centre in Coverciano will once again be lit up pink, as it was during the Men's recent training camp, to support this important initiative in spreading the word about preventing breast tumours. 

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Roberta Aprile (Juventus), Rachele Baldi (Fiorentina), Laura Giuliani (Milan), Katja Schroffenegger (Fiorentina);

Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (Roma), Valentina Bergamaschi (Milan), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Lucia Di Guglielmo (Roma), Sara Gama (Juventus), Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elena Linari (Roma), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Alice Tortelli (Fiorentina);

Midfielders: Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Giulia Dragoni (Barcelona), Aurora Galli (Everton), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Giada Greggi (Roma), Martina Tomaselli (Roma);

Forwards: Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Agnese Bonfantini (Inter), Michela Cambiaghi (Inter), Benedetta Glionna (Roma), Valentina Giacinti (Roma), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Gloria Marinelli (Milan).

UEFA WOMEN’S NATIONS LEAGUE - LEAGUE A / GROUP 4
Matchday 1: Sweden 2-3 Spain; Switzerland 0-1 ITALY
Matchday 2: ITALY 0-1 Sweden; Spain 5-0 Switzerland
Classifica: Spain 6, Sweden and e ITALY 3, Switzerland 0.

FIXTURE SCHEDULE
Matchday 3 (Friday 27 October): 17:45 CEST: ITALY vs. Spain, Stadio Arechi in Salerno; 18:30 CEST: Sweden vs. Switzerland, Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg