The Stadio Paolo Mazza in Ferrara will play host to Italy vs. Switzerland on Wednesday 29 May at 15:00 CEST. It will be the last friendly the Women’s National Team will play before the 2019 FIFA World Cup, which is set to take place in France from 7 June to 7 July. The Azzurre are set to play for the third time in Ferrara after winning 4-0 in a European qualifying match against Bosnia in March 2012 and 2-1 against Belgium thanks to goals from Rosucci and Girelli last April in World Cup qualifying.

On Sunday evening, the National Team will meet at Coverciano to begin their preparations for the World Cup: a total of 26 players have been called up for the first phase of this get-together. Those playing for Juventus and Fiorentina will join the group on Wednesday 8 May, with these two sides set to face each other on Sunday in the Coppa Italia final in Parma. Two exceptions to this are Bianconeri midfielder Martina Rosucci and Fiorentina goalkeeper Francesca Durante, both of whom will arrive at Coverciano on Sunday evening. On Friday 10 May, Milena Bertolini will announce the players who will be involved in the second week of training at Coverciano (12-17 May).

“Winning the World Cup is the dream of every coach,” said Bertolini at the editorial office of Ansa. “However, you need to deal in reality. We need to take small steps forward, starting by achieving our first objective of qualifying from our group.”

Having mentioned that the time is ripe for a female coach on the sidelines in the men’s Serie A division, she then emphasised the development of women's football recently: “Women will be the ones to save football: football played by women is great in terms of fair play and the spirit of sacrifice and commitment shown. The Federation strongly believes in women’s football and is continuing to invest in it. The numbers involved demonstrate that it’s certainly growing very quickly in Italy after stagnating for a number of years. In the space of a few years, we’ve gone from 20,000 to 25,000 card-carrying members – an important change of course. We’ve still got a long way to go to match other large European countries, but there are positive signs.”

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Francesca Durante (Fiorentina Women’s), *Laura Giuliani (Juventus), Chiara Marchitelli (Florentia), Rosalia Pipitone (AS Roma);
Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (AS Roma), *Lisa Boattin (Juventus),  Laura Fusetti (Milan), *Sara Gama (Juventus), *Alia Guagni (Fiorentina Women’s), Linda Cimini Tucceri (Milan), *Valery Vigilucci (Fiorentina Women’s);
Midfielders: *Greta Adami (Fiorentina Women’s), Lisa Alborghetti (Milan), Valentina Bergamaschi (Milan), *Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), *Valentina Cernoia (Juventus), *Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Milan), *Alice Parisi (Fiorentina Women’s), Martina Rosucci (Juventus), Annamaria Serturini (AS Roma);
Forwards: *Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Valentina Giacinti (Milan), *Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina Women’s), Daniela Sabatino (Milan), Stefania Tarenzi (Chievo Verona).

*will join the training retreat during the evening of Wednesday 8 May

Staff – Head Coach: Milena Bertolini; Team Manager: Elide Martini; Secretary: Alessandra Savini Nicci; Assistant Coaches: Attilio Sorbi and Federica D’Astolfo; Fitness Coaches: Stefano D’Ottavio and Francesco Perondi; Goalkeeper Coach: Cristiano Viotti; Match analyst: Marco Mannucci; Doctors: Matteo Guzzini and Salvatore Caruso; Physiotherapists: Maurizio D’Angelo and Daniele Frosoni; Nutritionist: Natale Gentile.

The National Team's schedule and media appointments from 5-17 May (all times CEST)

Sunday 5 May
20:00 CEST - Get-together at Coverciano

Monday 6 May
10:00 CEST – Training (behind closed doors)
13:00 - Lunch
Media appointment to follow
17:00 - Training (first 15 minutes public)

Tuesday 7 May
10:00 - Training (behind closed doors)
13:00 - Lunch
Media appointment to follow
17:00 - Training (first 15 minutes public)

Wednesday 8 May
10:00 - Training (behind closed doors)
13:00 - Lunch
Media appointment to follow
17:00 - Training (first 15 minutes public)
22.30 - Arrival of FC Juventus and Fiorentina Women's FC footballers

Thursday 9 May
10:00 – Training (behind closed doors)
17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)

Friday 10 May
10:00 - Training match against the Under-23 Women's National Team
16:00 - Training (behind closed doors)

Saturday 11 May
Rest

Sunday 12 May
22:30 - Get together at Coverciano

Monday 13 May 
10:00 – Training (behind closed doors)
13:00 - Lunch
Media appointment to follow
17:00 - Training (first 15 minutes public)

Tuesday 14 May
10:00 - Training (behind closed doors)

Wednesday 15 May
10:00 - Training (behind closed doors)
13:00 - Lunch
Media appointment to follow
17:00 - Training (first 15 minutes public)

Thursday 16 May
10:00 – Training (behind closed doors)
13:00 - Lunch
Media appointment to follow
17:00 - Training (first 15 minutes public)

Friday 17 May
10:00 - Training match against Under-16 men's team (behind closed doors)