Win the two remaining matches to earn a ticket to next year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. This is the mission for the Women’s National Team, who are back after the European Championship and now ready to pick up where they left off in mid-April, when are win over Switzerland saw them move top of the group.

On Sunday, Italy convene at Coverciano to start preparations ahead of their key fixtures against Moldova and Romania. On Friday 2 September in Chisinau (17.30 CEST), Milena Bertolini’s side will face Moldova, a team they beat 3-0 in the reverse fixture played in Trieste. On Tuesday 6 September (18.30 CEST), meanwhile, the return match against the Romanians will be played at the Stadio Paolo Mazza in Ferrara after a thumping 5-0 victory 9 months ago.

In short, the Azzurre have everything in their own hands: two wins would secure qualification. Otherwise, they will have to rely on the results of Switzerland, who sit two points behind ahead of their games against Croatia and Moldova. Head Coach Milena Bertolini has called up a squad of 24 for the upcoming fixtures and has left out the injured Sara Gama and Barbara Bonansea, with the former suffering from a right tibial injury and the latter with a muscular injury to her right thigh. Soffia, Glionna, Greggi and Cantore all return to the squad after missing the European Championship.

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Francesca Durante (Inter), Laura Giuliani (Milan), Katja Schroffenegger (Fiorentina);

Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (Roma), Valentina Bergamaschi (Milan), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Lucia Di Guglielmo (Roma), Maria Luisa Filangeri (Sassuolo), Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elena Linari (Roma), Angelica Soffia (Milan);

Midfielders: Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus), Aurora Galli (Everton), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Giada Greggi (Roma), Martina Rosucci (Juventus), Flaminia Simonetti (Inter);

Forwards: Agnese Bonfantini (Juventus), Sofia Cantore (Juventus), Valentina Giacinti (Roma), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Benedetta Glionna (Roma), Martina Piemonte (Milan).