The Azzurre are back together ahead of the resumption of their 2023 World Cup qualifying campaign. Today, they’ll begin their preparations for their two upcoming matches against Lithuania and Switzerland. Both are of vital importance, as Milena Bertolini pointed out in her press conference today: “If we want to qualify for the World Cup, we know we need to win all our games.”

Four group matches remain for the National Team, who know they need to make up three points on the Swiss after their defeat to them in Palermo at the end of November: “In that international window, Covid decimated our midfield, meaning we had a lot of big absences. There was thus a bit of negativity, which perhaps had an impact in the first 15 minutes of that came. Now, however, we need to think about one obstacle at a time. Right now, we’re focused on the first game in Parma against Lithuania. I expect them to be combative, and they’ll try to deny us any space.”

Bertolini didn’t just talk about the Azzurre’s next two games; she also commented on women’s football in Italy in general: “Taking part in European Championships and World Cups is vital if we want to grow the women’s game and make ourselves known to all Italians, women and men. A few days ago, we witnessed a truly exceptional spectacle in Barcelona, where 91,000 spectators filled the stands at Camp Nou to watch the return leg against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals. But the fact that I want to highlight is 18 of the 22 players who initially took to the pitch were Spanish. This is what is needed in Italy: we have to develop our young girls, displaying trust in them. If our clubs decide to turn to foreign players, they need to be strong athletes who can help our game grow. We need to improve our youngsters.”

As regards Europe’s elite club competition, Bertolini mentioned how “the Juventus players arrived at Coverciano feeling slightly sad after their elimination against Lyon. However, I told them that they should be proud of the exciting journey they’d been on in the competition.”

Annamaria Serturini will join up with the squad this evening after recovering from Covid. When it comes to the choices she makes, Bertolini stressed that she “doesn’t look at identity cards, but only at how the girls are doing in the league.”

There’s been a new addition to the Head Coach’s staff: Chiara Marchitelli, who played at the 2019 World Cup in France, is the Azzurre’s new accompanying manager.

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), Sara Gama (Juventus), Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elena Linari (Roma), Angelica Soffia (Roma);
Midfielders: Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus), Aurora Galli (Everton), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Giada Greggi (Roma), Martina Rosucci (Juventus);
Forwards: Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Tatiana Bonetti (Inter), Agnese Bonfantini (Juventus), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Benedetta Glionna (Roma), Martina Piemonte (Milan), Daniela Sabatino (Fiorentina), Annamaria Serturini (Roma).

Schedule (all times CEST)

Monday 4 April
10:30 Training/Gym
13:45 Head coach press conference
16:30 Training

Tuesday 5 April
10:30 Training
16:30 Training

Wednesday 6 April
10:30 Training
16:30 Travel to Parma

Thursday 7 April
16:30 Head coach and captain press conference
17:30 Training at the Stadio Ennio Tardini (open to the press for the first 15 minutes)

Friday 8 April
19:00 ITALY VS. LITHUANIA

Saturday 9 April
11:30 Training

Sunday 10 April
10:30 Training
17:30 Flight from Parma to Bern and travel to Thun

Monday 11 April
17:45 Training at the Stockhorn Arena (open to the press for the first 15 minutes)

Tuesday 12 April
17:45 SWITZERLAND VS. ITALY

Wednesday 13 April
10:30 Return to Italy