A penalty defeat, which leaves a bitter taste in the mouth after how it played out, but the journey of the competition will be looked at in a positive light in travelled by the Azzurre: after the 1-1 in the 90 minutes of play, the Italian women's national team were forced to go to penalties in the Algarve Cup final against Sweden, who sit second in the world Fifa rankings. As was the case in 2019, when it was North Korea who prevailed in the final of the Cyprus Cup, once again it was the spot-kicks from 12 yards to decide it. A bitter conclusion once again, denying Italy success in another invitational international tournament.

"I'm certainly sorry - Coach Milena Bertolini commented at the end of the match - but I want to see the positive side of the tournament: the girls have been exceptional, they have shown that they have matured and that they can also compete against teams the best teams in the world".

Among the positive notes of the tournament, the player of the tournament, Bonansea and her fantastic skill, as today she provided the assist for the momentary lead provided by Giacinti. The Algarve Cup returned to being disputed after the cancellation of the competition in 2021 and after the final between Italy and Germany was not played in 2020, given the spread of the pandemic in those days of March.

The match. In conditions that were more indicative of summer rather than spring, Coach Bertolini proposed a 4-3-3 lineup in which the keys to defensive stability, in front of Giuliani, were entrusted to a partnership of Gama and Linari, while the wide positions were occupied by Di Guglielmo and Lenzini. In midfield Rosucci, Galli and Caruso act as the links inbetween, with the attacking trio of Bergamaschi, Giacinti and Bonansea.

The two teams started the match in a tentative fashion, sp as to not expose themselves early, and the only real moves of the opening exchanges came from consecutive corner kicks for Italy who tried to surprise the Scandinavian defence, by playing it short. In the 18th minute, the passage of play unlocks a one on one. The Azzurre’s pressure lead to the recovery of possession in the Swedish half and Bonansea found the gap in the defence and put it on a plate for Giacinti inside the penalty area: the Fiorentina striker was clinical enough to beat Lindahl with a precise shot with her left to make it 1-0 to Italy. Having taken the lead, Milena Bertolini's girls controlled the game without having to take any risks. Despite Swedish pressure growing towards the end of the first half, no particularly dangerous situations were able to be created in front of Giuliani’s goal.

The second half opened with a left-footed effort from Caruso from 25 meters which called Lindahl into action with a good save at the expense of a corner. On the following corner, Lenzini failed to make the most of Gama's head back towards the middle of the goal and in an acrobatic fashion, she sent the ball high over the crossbar. The pace of the game rose significantly compared to the opening 45 minutes of play and in the 51st minute, the Swedes hit the post: a free-kick from the wing, as the Scandinavians hit Giuliani's left post with a header and on the rebound it struck the back of Di Guglielmo, providing a tap-in for the attentive Schough. The Swedish pressure increased more and more as the minutes passed, which was in part due to the substitutions made by coach Gerhardsson. At 70 minutes, the draw looked a certainty.

Italy found fresh energy from the changes made by Bertolini, managing to release their opponent's pressure, as six minutes from the 90, they had a sensational opportunity to get back in the lead following a corner kick routine: Girelli's aerial effort flies past Lindahl and is latched onto by Caruso, but the midfielder, leaning back, made contact with the ball with the top of her head, striking the crossbar from a few yards out. This was the last action in a final that was to be decided by the fateful penalty shootout-out after there was nothing to separate the two teams in regulation time. From twelve yards, the ten players chosen by the two coaches to take the penalties were relentless and were maintained full focus. At this point, goalkeeper Lindahl converted the sixth Swedish penalty, cancelling out Serturini's conversion from twelve yards, which meant the Algarve Cup would be heading to Sweden.

Sweden vs. Italy 1-1 (7-6 on penalties)
SWEDEN: Lindahl, Andersson (62’ Nilden), Rybrink, Asllani, Jakobsson (62’ Hurtig), Roddar, Anvegard (62’ Blackstenius), Bennison (86' Angeldahl), Schough (77' Kaneryd), Rubensson (62’ Seger), Berglund. Subs: Kullberg, Glas, Janogy, Falk, Ilestedt, Musovic. Coach: Gerhardsson
ITALY: Giuliani, Lenzini (81' Orsi), Gama, Linari, Di Guglielmo, Galli (64' Cernoia), Rosucci (56' Giugliano), Caruso, Bergamaschi (81' Glionna), Giacinti (56' Girelli), Bonansea (56' Serturini). Subs: Durante, Simonetti, Boattin, Soffia, Baldi. Coach: Bertolini
REFEREE: Jeong Kim (KOR). Assistants: Tsoi (KGZ) and Park Mi (KGZ). Fourth offical: Ferreira Campos (POR)
GOALS: 18’ Giacinti, 71’ Seger (penalty)
NOTES – bookings: Di Guglielmo, Berglund, Lenzini. Stoppage time: 1’ (HT), 3’ (FT). penatlies - Seger: goal; Giugliano: goal; Asllani: goal; Gama: goal; Blackstenius: goal; Girelli: goal; Berglund: goal; Cernoia: goal; Angeldahl: goal; Caruso: goal; Lindahl: goal; Serturini: saved.