Italy were one step away from the victory and left to applause at the Mazza in Ferrara despite the 1-1 result. It was another draw against Norway on Matchday 4 in Group A1 as the Azzurre are left with some regrets having dominated for over 80 minutes. Giugliano opened the scoring in the 6th minute with her 10th Italy goal but Maanum’s header with ten minutes to go stopped Soncin’s side from taking the three points and top spot.

Despite the same points tally as the Scandinavians, Italy sit third with a worse goal difference (-2) and will need to try to overtake the Netherlands or Norway in the last two group games to seal EURO 2025 qualification without going to the playoffs at the end of the year. The next game will be on 12 July away to the table leaders before the final stop in Bolzano against Finland.

Soncin spoke: “We played the game we wanted to play and in the first half we created a lot, we controlled the game in the second half, giving little away to a very strong side. Regrets mean we are still growing in terms of mentality and awareness. We played well in all areas. We missed out on the three points but we will play out the groupstage to the very last”.

THE MATCH. Two changes in midfield, one in attack: this is what Soncin decided to do after the game ​​in Oslo. Unchanged in a defence that did well four days ago whilst the Coach started Giugliano once more, yesterday being nominated for Serie A MVP. Caruso was yet again pulling the strings whilst Dragoni was back starting on the left six months since the away win over World Cup champions, Spain. Together with Giacinti and Bonansea up front was Bonfantini, star of the show in the final minutes at the Ullevaal Stadion.

Before kick-off, FIGC president Gabriele Gravina, AIC president and FIGC vice president Umberto Calcagno awarded Girelli, Bonansea and Linari for reaching 100 appearances in an Italy shirt. Giugliano began the Azzurre show in the very first minute as she put Giacinti through on goal for a chance that Fiskerstrand did well to send out for a corner. Just 6 minutes in, Dragoni made a perfect pass for Di Guglielmo who crossed to Giugliano, finishing off the chance to celebrate her 10th Azzurre goal.

The home side’s movement was fluid and fast with Bonansea bothering the opposition backline for the first half an hour. At 34’ came the first big chance for Norway who were denied by a Giuliani miracle to dive and deflect the shot from the Champions League-winning Barcelona player, Graham Hansen.

The start of the second half was the same as the first: Italy got the better of the left-wing and almost went ahead in the opening moments through Giacinti outside the box. In the 54th minute, Dragoni and Bonfantini made way for Greggi and Cantore. Seconds later the Juve winger made the most of yet another Bonansea run to unleash a shot that smacked the crossbar.

Italy sat deeper from then on and Norway gained ground, going level in the 81st minute as Maanum got a head to the free kick from Bøe Risa. In the final moments, the Azzurre tried it all but were missing energy and a bit of luck. We go again in July with the aim of securing what we’ve deserved from the three consecutive games against the Scandis.

ITALY 1-0 NORWAY

Goals: 6’ Giugliano (I), 81’ Maanum

ITALY (4-3-3): Giuliani; Bartoli (84’ Salvai), Lenzini, Linari, Di Guglielmo; Caruso, Giugliano, Dragoni (54’ Greggi); Bonansea (68’ Beccari), Giacinti (84’ Piemonte), Bonfantini (54’ Cantore). Unused subs: Baldi, Schroffenegger, Bergamaschi, Boattin, Galli, Severini, Catena. Coach: Andrea Soncin

NORWAY (4-3-3): Fiskerstrand; Thorisdottir, Bergsvand, Harviken, Hansen; Sævik, Engen (64’ Naalsund), Bøe Risa; Graham Hansen, Terland (64’ Maanum), Reiten. Unused subs: Pettersen, Mikalsen, Østenstad, Mjelde, Woldvik, Tandberg, Kielland, Ildhusøy, Gaupset, Haug. Coach: Gemma Grainger

Referee: Rebecca Welch (ENG). Assistants: Emily Carney (ENG) and Anastasiya Voloshchuck (ENG). Fourth official: Kirsty Dowle (ENG)
Note: 2200 spectators, booked Terland (N), Bonansea (I), Caruso (I)

Calendar, results and table of Group A1

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

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

 

Matchday 5 (12 July, venues and times to be defined): Netherlands vs. ITALY, Finland vs. Norway

Matchday 6 (16 July, venues and times to be defined): ITALY vs. Finland, Norway vs. Netherlands