Come away with a win to make a big step towards direct qualification for EURO 2025: this is the aim of Italy Women, who will face Norway at the Stadio Paolo Mazza in Ferrara at 18:15 CEST tomorrow. After their 0-0 draw in Oslo on Friday, the Azzurre are hoping to claim the full spoils in Group A1 and, in doing so, improve their chances of avoiding the playoffs, which the third- and fourth-place teams will be involved in.

Right now, Italy find themselves behind the Netherlands and level on points with the Scandinavians, who, however have a better goal difference than Italy (by +2). If two teams finish level on points, the head-to-head record between the sides is considered first, meaning a win for Andrea Soncin’s girls would be all the more valuable.

“A crucial game awaits us,” said the Head Coach during his pre-match press conference. “The girls are working really well and are aware of what’s at stake and what they can give out on the pitch. We’ve prepared well, and there’s the right atmosphere and spirit, as well as plenty of energy. I’m certain that we won’t be wanting for support in Ferrara.” Soncin, who admitted that he hasn’t yet decided his line-up, trusts the players he has at his disposal and knows that, alongside them, he has the responsibility of taking the blue of the Azzurre across Italy with the aim of making more young girls fall in love with the game: “I’d like to highlight the fantastic attitude of the girls in every training session,” he added. They know that wearing the Italy shirt is a privilege: you need to fight to be able to put it on and even more so to keep wearing it.”

Immediately before kick-off, all eyes will be on three players who have made history with Italy in the past few years: Barbara Bonansea, Cristiana Girelli and Elena Linari will all receive a trophy for reaching 100 Italy appearances. FIGC President Gravina will present the respective awards to the Juventus attackers and Roma defender, who are now part of an exclusive club that only contains ten other players (from Patrizia Panico with 204 caps through to Maura Furlotti with 100).

“100 appearances is certainly a lot. It makes me proud to be able to experience this joy together with two of my teammates,” said Bonansea as she answered journalists’ questions at the Mazza. “Tomorrow, we’ll be playing in front of our own fans, which will give us an extra boost. We hope there will be a blue wave in the stands. We’ll look to show courage and quality, and Norway will have to be aware of our desire to win.” In terms of the atmosphere in the changing room, the 32-year-old responded without hesitating: “I consider myself lucky to be here. There’s so much quality, we get on well, and our hearts have always carried us far. We want to carry on building.”

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Rachele Baldi (Fiorentina), Laura Giuliani (Milan), Katja Schroffenegger (Fiorentina), Margot Shore (Hellas Verona);

Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (Roma), Valentina Bergamaschi (Milan), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Lucia Di Guglielmo (Roma), Maria Luisa Filangeri (Sassuolo), Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elena Linari (Roma), Elisabetta Oliviero (Sampdoria), Julie Piga (Milan), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus);

Midfielders: Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Giulia Dragoni (Barcelona), Aurora Galli (Everton), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Giada Greggi (Roma), Matilde Pavan (Inter), Cecilia Prugna (Sassuolo), Emma Severini (Fiorentina);

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