Denmark will arrive in La Spezia determined to redeem themselves after losing three days earlier in their opening game in Group 4 of the Nations League. Their 2-1 home defeat to Sweden is worse than it may seem as it proves their recent struggle to win against high-ranked nations. Before losing in the Scandinavian derby, they also lost a friendly to the Netherlands and they suffered defeat twice against Spain in EURO 2025 qualification.

This poor run however shouldn’t overlook the achievements of Andrée Jeglertz’s side (in charge since 2023), who often seem in total control, and even ruthless, against lesser sides. In the current manager’s 18 games in charge so far, since his time at Finland and Canada, Denmark have drawn only once, winning ten and losing seven. In European competition history, the side have been runners-up once and have come third twice (seven times in the semi-final) and in both the last Nations League campaign and the European Qualifiers, they finished second, behind Germany and Spain respectively.

Jeglertz’s side is made up of eight players currently playing in Italy: out of the 23-strong selected group, there are three Giallorosse in Frederikke Thogersen, the 21-year-old Sanne Troelsgaard and Denmark’s most experienced selected player, Sanne Troelsgaard, on 192 caps. There are also four Fiorentina players in Stine Ballisager, Emma Faerge, Emma Snerle and Sofia Bredgaard as well as Juventus’ Amalie Vangsgaard. The Bianconera will play in attack alongside the highly-talented Pernille Harder. The 32-year-old Bayern Munich forward, winner of the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year Award in 2018 and 2020, has scored 77 goals in 156 appearances for her nation, but only one of those came against Italy in 2011. Another threat in attack is Real Madrid’s Signe Bruun who has scored 23 goals in 48 appearances.