Preparations continue for the Women’s National Team ahead of their final two EURO 2025 group stage qualifiers against the Netherlands and Finland, scheduled for Friday 12 July in Sittard (20:45 CEST, live on Rai Sport) and Tuesday 16 in Bolzano (19:00 CEST, live on Rai Sport). Italy have already been at work for a week and after the first few days in Galzignano Terme, they are now training in Brunico where they will remain until they depart for the Netherlands on Wednesday 10 July.

Yesterday, the Azzurre were visited by Mayor Roland Griessmair who wanted to greet them and wish all the best to Andrea Soncin and the 33 players on retreat (the final squad list for the last two games in Group A1 will be announced by Saturday). In the splendid surroundings at the foot of Plan de Corones, the mountain that offers an unrivalled view of the most famous peaks of the Dolomites, the team are cooing up strategies to face the Oranje who lead in the standings with 7 points, followed by Norway and Italy both on 5 with the Azzurre third on goal difference. 

After a functional testing session as part of the collaboration between FIGC and the CONI Institute of Sports Medicine and Science, the players underwent an incremental running test to determine training parameters, all under the watchful eye of athletic coaches Mattia Toffolutti e Cristian Savoia, doctor Luca Gatteschi and CONI staff members. The group continue to be split between athletic and tactical work with the staff intent on working on every last detail.

The upcoming 180 minutes will be fundamental in deciding if the Azzurre will go straight to the Euros finals or if they will have to play for their place, should they finish the group stage in third or fourth. The aim will be to win points away against the Netherlands who they beat 2-0 in the first fixture before fighting for automatic qualification at the Stadio Druso in Bolzano. Italy have played there twice before, both friendlies, once in 1983 against Austria (8-0) and in 2004 against Germany (0-1).

Calendar, results and table of Group 1 (League A)

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

Matchday 5 (12 July): Netherlands vs. ITALY (20:45 CEST, Sittard), Finland vs. Norway (19;00 local time, 18:00 CEST, Turku)

Matchday 6 (16 July): ITALY vs. Finland (19:00 CEST, Bozen), Norway vs. Netherlands (19:00 CEST, Bergen)

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