“What we will do in the coming months will totally depend on what we build today”. This is something Andrea Soncin has said for a while, with the aim of making his side understand that “the next game is always the most important”. It’d be dangerous to focus on the next tournament in summer because the real objective for Italy - “being a leader in European football”, as he said yesterday to the Radio Lega Serie A - requires time and comes from one game after the next. Starting with the fixture tomorrow in Monza (18:15 CET, live on Rai 2) against Wales, the first game of 2025 and in Group A4 of the UEFA Women’s Nations League.

The Head Coach spoke to Rai Sport: “It will be a complicated game because the level of the competition is greatly increasing. My staff and myself have a lot of trust because the girls are the first to have faith in their own skills. It’s not presumptuous but an awareness of what we can do: the group is determined and has skill, as a consequence, I have a lot of choice. We want to put in a good performance and get the three points in front of our supporters. This message was received loud and clear by the public in Monza, ready to cheer on Italy - coming off the back of seven good results - for the win. Over 4,000 tickets have already been sold but they will be available to buy right up until kick-off tomorrow via the Vivaticket vendors, figc.vivaticket.it and vivaticket.com as well as directly at the ground’s ticket office (via Franco Tognini 4).

The Azzurre will be aiming for their third win in three games against Wales (beaten in 2018 and 2019), 30th in the FIFA Rankings. No need to believe in ‘resultopathy’ - a term used by Sonicn in recent days - but to be secure and hungry for the win. Manuela Giugliano knows it well, leading the Azzurre as they wear the new green adidas shirt designed for the occasion. The midfielder, 85 appearances and 11 goals, spoke: “I’ve seen a very united squad this week, a lot of smiling and a lot of desire to have fun. We missed being together as an Italy squad and couldn’t wait to be back and show our strength. There is adrenaline and a little but of pressure but we will put that aside with our skill on the pitch: I am sure that all together we will do great things”.

The day for the 29 players called up by the Coach (by midnight, the list of 23 players in the matchday squad had to be sent to UEFA) closed out with a walk around at the ground and the traditional group picture. Behind them was written ‘Monza’ in the stands that, in less than 24 hours, will be full of love and passion for the Azzurre. The wait is finally over, it’s back down to business.

THE SCHEDULE

Friday 21 February
18:15 CET ITALY vs. Wales (live on Rai 2)
Return to Coverciano

Saturday 22 February
11:30 CET Training (closed to the media)

Sunday 23 February
11:30 CET Training (first 15 minutes open to the media)

Monday 24 February
11:00 CET Official MD-1 training (first 15 minutes open to the media)
16:00 CET Departure for La Spezia
Walk around and press conference at the Stadio Alberto Picco in La Spezia

Tuesday 25 February
18:15 CET ITALY vs. Denmark