“We want to keep fighting for our dream”. Andrea Soncin spoke following the 6-0 win over Serbia and described the jubilant mood at Coverciano, as the team returned to prepare for the game against Denmark. The 90 minutes on Saturday represent a big step in the Azzurre’s journery towards to the World Cup. With a win, Italy would then reach their rivals at the top of Group 1. A loss however, would all but cause the loss of the possibility of first place. 

The minds of the team now turn to the 21st match against Denmark, who come into the game following an important win against Sweden. This morning the group split their work between the pitch and the gym, allowing themselves a brief moment of celebration to honour Manuela Giugliano: to applause from her teammates and staff, the 28 year old from Castelfranco Veneto received a shirt from head of delegation Sara Gama and the Head Coach to mark her 100 appearances for the senior national team. The midfielder spoke about the milestone, “It’s a special moment that will stay with me forever. These milestones are only achieved through the hard work and passion we show on the pitch every day. I thank you all for having made this possible and for having accompanied me on this amazing journey”. 

The journey of Manu and the Azzurre will now continue with Friday’s flight to Denmark, where in seven previous meetings Italy have managed to win just once: in the most recent match on Scandinavian soil, played on 8 April last year, the team won 3-0.  Martina Lenzini remembers the match well, as it was one of the few games under Soncin in which she did not feature due to injury. But, the Juventus defender, like everyone else, is putting the past aside to focus on the future. “It was from the final huddle yesterday that the coach already directed us towards Saturday’s match, she said, the 99% achieved in Serbia must become 100 percent, and then 101 percent, because it will be crucial to continue like this also in the double fixture in June. We faced the Danish team last month and we know their qualities well. From tomorrow we will start working on every detail to try to bring home the win”.

 

Lenzini too, like Giugliano, experienced a night with a special feeling, reliving the moments of her first goal for the national team. “When the ball went in I was so happy, I couldn’t stop smiling with satisfaction. I also felt a sense of relief, because even though scoring is not something I specifically look for, doing it with this shirt is always special. I dedicate it to my family: after the match I found so many messages in our WhatsApp chat, they were all very happy and involved. I thank them because without them I would not be here”.

 

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Rachele Baldi (Roma), Francesca Durante (Lazio), Laura Giuliani (Milan), Margot Shore (Marsiglia);

Defenders: Caterina Ambrosi (Parma), Valentina Bergamaschi (Roma), Lucia Di Guglielmo (Washington Spirit), Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elena Linari (London City Lionesses), Marika Massimino (Ternana), Elisabetta Oliviero (Lazio), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Angelica Soffia (Milan);

Midfielders: Arianna Caruso (Bayern Monaco), Giulia Dragoni (Roma), Aurora Galli (Everton), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Giada Greggi (Roma), Eva Schatzer (Juventus), Emma Severini (Fiorentina);

Forwards: Chiara Beccari (Juventus), Agnese Bonfantini (Fiorentina), Michela Cambiaghi (Juventus), Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit), Cristiana Girelli (Bay FC), Benedetta Glionna (Inter), Martina Piemonte (Lazio).


SCHEDULE

Thursday 16 April

15.30 CEST Training (closed)

Friday 17 April

10.00 CEST Player and coach press cofnerence

10.45 CEST Training session at Coverciano (first 15 minutes open to media)

16.30 CEST Leave Coverciano and journey to Copenhagen

19.15 CEST Walk around Parken Stadion

Saturday 18 April

15.00 CEST Denmark vs. ITALY (Rai 2)