A year and a half after their victory against Colombia, the Italian Women's National Team returns to Rome's Tre Fontane for a friendly against Malta, scheduled for tomorrow at 18:15 CEST (live on Rai Sport). The match against the side coached by former Azzurra Manuela Tesse, who earned 87 caps and scored 2 goals for Italy, will be the third-to-last fixture of the year. Following this, Italy will face powerhouses Spain (October 29 in Vicenza) and Germany (December 2 in Bochum). However, the team remains focused, as requested by the coach, on tomorrow’s 90 minutes against Malta.

"In this window", emphasised Andrea Soncin during the press conference, "we will be playing two completely different matches, but they must share one common denominator: mentality. We need to keep progressing in terms of our mentality because, if we want to be among the top teams, we must approach every match in the same way. We're working on our identity, and that takes priority over any opponent".

The goal is to take advantage of all the training camps leading up to the start of the continental tournament to work on aspects that can help Italy make further progress. One key point is: “What we lack is simply consistency in performance”, added the head coach. “The players have shown they can compete on equal terms with everyone, and they are also achieving great results with their respective clubs. The level of the league is continually rising, and there are promising talents in the youth teams. All of this demonstrates that the movement is growing. Both in clubs and at national level, internal competitiveness has increased, and consequently, it has become more challenging for me to make selections. The last call-up reflects this: there are many players, especially in the attacking line, who deserved to be here”.

Soncin concluded his remarks by confirming that in the upcoming 180 minutes, he will field two highly competitive teams, focusing regardless of the opponents on the principles that the Azzurre need to implement. Valentina Giacinti is also aware of this, and after qualifying for EURO 2025 in July, she was eager to reunite with her teammates: “We got back together last Sunday at Coverciano”, said the Roma striker before the final training session, “with a lot of serenity and immense eagerness to don this jersey again. Starting from tomorrow, we must show that we are the same team that has achieved great results over the past year.”

In recent weeks, Giacinti has rediscovered her traditional confidence in front of goal. She has scored 26 goals in 78 appearances for the national team and now she doesn’t want to stop. Against Malta, whom she faced and defeated in both encounters in 2019, she dreams of scoring at the stadium where she regularly plays in the yellow and red colours. Approximately 2,000 spectators are expected at the venue, with tickets available on Vivaticket until 22:00 CEST today. “There will be a lot of people, and I’m sure there will be a great atmosphere,” she concluded. “When you wear this jersey, you have to give more than 100%. We’re in good shape, and we want to prove it. We will be up against an organised opponent, and I expect a different match compared to those five years ago because women’s football is growing everywhere”,

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Rachele Baldi (Inter), Francesca Durante (Fiorentina), Laura Giuliani (Milan), Margot Shore (Bologna);

Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (Inter), Valentina Bergamaschi (Juventus), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Lucia Di Guglielmo (Roma), Maria Luisa Filangeri (Fiorentina), Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elena Linari (Roma), Elisabetta Oliviero (Lazio), Julie Piga (Milan), Angelica Soffia (Milan);

Midfielders: Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Giulia Dragoni (Roma), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Eleonora Goldoni (Lazio), Giada Greggi (Roma), Eva Schatzer (Juventus), Emma Severini (Fiorentina);

Forwards: Chiara Beccari (Juventus), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Agnese Bonfantini (Fiorentina), Michela Cambiaghi (Inter), Sofia Cantore (Juventus), Valentina Giacinti (Roma), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Benedetta Glionna (Roma), Martina Piemonte (Lazio).

SCHEDULE

Sunday 20 October
Meeting at Coverciano

Monday 21 October
13:00 CEST - Press conference with Head Coach
15:00 CEST - Training

Friday 25 October
18:15 CEST - ITALY vs. Malta
Return to Coverciano

Saturday 26 October
11:30 CEST - Training

Sunday 27 October
11:00 CET - Training
17:20 CET - Departure for Vicenza

Monday 28 October
12:30 CET - Lunch
16:30 CET - Press conference with Head Coach and a player
17:30 CET - Training MD-1 at the Stadio Romeo Menti in Vicenza

Tuesday 29 October
18:15 CET - ITALY vs. Spain