The Azzurre’s first training camp of the season has kicked off with plenty of smiles and the desire to work hard together to continue to grow. The Euros, which Italy qualified for three months ago by beating Finland 4-0, are still far away. The Azzurre thus need to focus on the present and, in general, an ongoing journey where they need to “display the right mentality and desire to win in every match,” as pointed out by Andrea Soncin during his press conference today.

The thoughts of the 30 Azzurre players present at Coverciano are on the upcoming friendlies against Malta at the Tre Fontane in Rome (18:15 CEST on Friday 25 October) and Spain at the Menti in Vicenza (18:15 CEST on Tuesday 29 October). “We’ve arrived at a point in the season where the girls have plenty of minutes in their legs,” continued the Head Coach. “For this reason, we selected opponents with very different characteristics. Our journey needs to be a collective and daily effort, starting with the work done at club level and continuing into the training camps of the National Team. We want to continue raising the bar, and the players know that a call-up needs to be earned day after day.”  

After discussing a few individuals, in particular the young Giulia Dragoni (“a talent that just needs to be nurtured”) and Eva Schatzer (“she’s ready to make her debut”), Soncin didn’t hide his satisfaction with the synergy that has been created with Italy’s top-flight clubs. He also expressed his hope that the Azzurre will receive the warmth they deserve in both the capital and Vicenza.

“We’re in constant contact with the clubs,” Soncin concluded. “This allows us to individualise the development of every player. The standard of Serie A is very high, and I’d like to applaud the coaches – especially those who have recently arrived – for the ideas that are being displayed out on the pitch. It’s good that competition for places has increased, just like it’s a good thing that we’ll play our next couple of matches in Italy. We made this choice because it’s only right for fans to get to experience the National Team, especially youngsters and young girls, who always follow us with real passion.”

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).