The Women’s National Team will continue their campaign to qualify for the European Championships with two home matches: the Azzurre are currently sitting joint top of Group B alongside Denmark with four wins from four, (eight goals scored and just two conceded) and they will be looking to continue their winning run with fixtures against Georgia and Malta, two teams who are sitting bottom of the table with zero points each and two teams who the Azzurre have already beaten on their travels.

Italy will host Georgia on Friday 8 November (Kick-off at 17:30 CET) at the Stadio Ciro Vigorito in Benevento, and then on Tuesday 12 November (Kick-off at 14:15 CET) they will take on Malta at the Stadio Teofilo Patini in Castel di Sangro. It will be the fourth time the Women’s National Team have played a game in Benevento where they have a record of two wins (2-1 against Norway in July ’79 and 2-1 against Sweden in June 2004) and one draw (0-0 against Germany in December ’96). They have only played one previous fixture in Castel di Sangro, a 3-0 loss against Romania during qualification for the 2019 World Cup in France.

Coach Milena Bertolini has called up 23 players for these two matches and the squad will meet up on the evening of Sunday 3 November at the Coverciano Federal Training Centre, where they will have their first training session on Monday morning.

 

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Laura Giuliani (Juventus), Rachele Baldi (Empoli Ladies), Roberta Aprile (FC Inter);

Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (AS Roma), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Laura Fusetti (AC Milan), Sara Gama (Juventus), Alia Guagni (Fiorentina Women), Elena Linari (Atletico Madrid), Linda Tucceri Cimini (AC Milan);

Midfielders: Valentina Bergamaschi (AC Milan), Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus), Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (AS Roma), Benedetta Glionna (Hellas Verona), Giada Greggi (AS Roma), Gloria Marinelli (FC Inter), Martina Rosucci (Juventus);

Forwards: Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Valentina Giacinti (AC Milan), Daniela Sabatino (Sassuolo), Stefania Tarenzi (FC Inter).

 

Staff – Head Coach: Milena Bertolini; Assistant Coach: Nicola Matteucci; Women’s National Team Coordiantor: Annarita Stallone; Secretary: Alessandra Savini Nicci; Fitness Coach: Francesco Perondi; Goalkeeping Coach: Cristiano Viotti; Match Analyst: Marco Mannucci; Doctors: Luca Gatteschi and Antonio Ponzo; Physiotherapists: Daniele Frosoni and Matteo Cossa; Nutritionist: Natale Gentile.

 

Schedule

Sunday 3 November

20:00 CET - Arrival at the CTF in Coverciano

Monday 4 November

09:30 CET - Training (Behind closed doors)

13:30 CET - Coach’s press conference

15:30 CET - Training (First 15 minutes open to the press)

Tuesday 5 November

09:30 CET - Training (Behind closed doors)

13:30 CET - Players’ press conference

15:30 CET - Training (First 15 minutes open to the press)

Wednesday 6 November

09:30 CET - Training (Behind closed doors)

16:00 CET - Departure for Benevento

Thursday 7 November

15:45 CET - Press conference at the Stadio Ciro Vigorito

16:15 CET - Training (First 15 minutes open to the press)

Friday 8 November

17:30 CET - Italy vs. Georgia

Saturday 9 November

10:00 CET - Training (Behind closed doors)

16:00 CET - Departure for Castel di Sangro

Sunday 10 November

09:30 CET - Training (Behind closed doors)

15:30 CET - Training (Behind closed doors)

Monday 11 November

10:30 CET - Press conference at the Stadio Teofilo Patini

11:00 CET - Training (First 15 minutes open to the press)

Tuesday 12 November

14:15 CET - Italy vs. Malta