Right off the back of an excellent performance in France at the World Cup, the Women's National Team are ready for the new season, which begins with two European Championship qualification matches against Israel and Georgia. Juventus midfielder Barbara Bonansea and Sassuolo defender Martina Lenzini are both unavailable for these matches, and in their place Coach Bertolini has called up Inter’s Gloria Marinelli and Juventus’ Vanessa Panzeri, both receiving their first call-ups to the National Team.

Including Marinelli and Panzeri there are now six new faces for the National Team. Two goalkeepers in Francesca Durante (Fiorentina), who was involved in the build-up to France 2019, and Rachele Baldi (Empoli), fresh from the Universiade tournament. Two midfielders in Agnese Bonfantini (AS Roma) and Arianna Caruso (Juventus), who were both also key players for the National University side at the tournament in Campania. Finally, there is also a new face amongst the technical staff, with Nicola Matteucci now alongside Bertolini in the role of Assistant Coach.

The team will meet tomorrow, Thursday 22 August, at Coverciano. The schedule sees five training sessions before Saturday 24 August, with a final session scheduled for the morning of Sunday 25. In the late afternoon the Azzurre will travel to Rome from where, the next day at 12:00 CEST, they will then depart for Tel Aviv. The first qualification match will take place on Thursday 29 against Israel at the 'Ramat Gan' stadium, (17:30 CEST, 18:30 local time). The National Team will then continue their preparation in Israel until Saturday 31 August, when they will head to Tblisi, the capital of Georgia. Finally, on Tuesday 3 September at the 'Mikheil Meshi' stadium, the Azzurre will face the Georgian National Team (14:15 CEST, 16:15 local time).

 

Squad List

Goalkeepers: Laura Giuliani (Juventus), Francesca Durante (Fiorentina Women), Rachele Baldi (Empoli Ladies).

Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (AS Roma), Laura Fusetti (AC Milan), Sara Gama (Juventus), Alia Guagni (Fiorentina Women), Elena Linari (Atletico de Madrid), Vanessa Panzeri (Juventus), Linda Tucceri Cimini (AC Milan).

Midfielders: Valentina Bergamaschi (AC Milan), Agnese Bonfantini (AS Roma), Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus), Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (AS Roma), Martina Rosucci (Juventus), Annamaria Serturini (AS Roma).

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

 

Staff

Head Coach: Milena Bertolini; Assistant Coach: Nicola Matteucci; Fitness Coach: Francesco Perondi; Goalkeeping Coach: Cristiano Viotti; Match Analyst: Marco Mannucci; Doctors: Matteo Guzzini, Luca Gatteschi, Ferdinando Iannotti; Physiotherapists: Daniele Frosoni, Matteo Cossa; Nutritionist: Natale Gentile.

Schedule

Thursday 22 August

12:00 Meet at Coverciano

13:15 Media activities

17:00 Training (First 15 minutes open to the media)

 

Friday 23 August

9:30 Training (First 15 minutes open to the media)

13:15 Media activities

17:00 Training (closed)

 

Saturday 24 August

9:30 Training (closed)

17:00 Training (closed)

 

 Sunday 25 August

10:00 Training match (closed)

18:30 Travel to Rome

 

Monday 26 August

10:45 Transfer to Rome Fiumicino airport

12:00 Flight to Tel Aviv

16:20* Arrive in Tel Aviv and transfer to Hotel Herods Herzliya

20.00* Training at the Shefayim training ground (closed)

Tuesday 27 August

19:30* Training at the Shefayim training ground (closed)

 

Wednesday 28 August

18:30* Training MD-1 c/o Ramat Gan Stadium  (First 15 minutes open to the media)

 

Thursday 29 August

18:30* ISRAEL vs. ITALY

Media activities to follow

 

Friday 30 August

9:30* Training at the Shefayim training ground (closed)

 

Saturday 31 August

14:10* Flight from Tel Aviv to Tbilisi

17:45** Land at Tbilisi and transfer to the Hotel Radisson Blu Tbilisi

 

Sunday 1 September

17.00** Training at the David Petriashvili Sports Centre (closed)

 

Monday 2 September

17:00**  Training MD-1 c/o Mikheil Meskhi Stadium (First 15 minutes open to the media)

 

Tuesday 3 September

17:00** GEORGIA vs. ITALY

Media activities to follow

 

Wednesday 4 September

05:05** Return to Italy via Munich

 

Time zones: *Israel CET+1  /  **Georgia CET +2