“Given the performance we put in and the way we’ve worked over the past few days, we deserved a goal.” Nicola Matteucci, Head Coach of the Italy Under-19 Women’s National Team, was pleased with his side’s display despite the 1-0 defeat to Germany in the second and final match of the La Nucia tournament in Spain. After Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with France, the Azzurrine were undone by a 36th-minute goal from Zoe Schick, but they could feel hard done by, having come close through Giulia Galli in the first half and then through Greta Zanoni and Eleonora Ferraresi after the restart.

Matteucci gave all the squad members playing time as they prepare for Round 2 of the European qualifiers, scheduled for April in Sweden. “Tests against opponents like these are crucial for our development,” Matteucci continued. “Only by challenging ourselves in this way can we hope to raise our level. The only disappointment from today’s match is the result: given how the team and staff have worked over the past few days, we deserved to score. Clearly, facing sides such as France or Germany carries the risk of not getting the desired outcome, but our progress depends on competing against teams of this calibre.”

Tomorrow at 11:00 CET, the U20s will take on Poland at Coverciano in the second of two friendlies kicking off their build-up to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, which takes place this September in Poland. The first match, played on Wednesday, ended 0-0.