Hoping to pull off a late qualification for the Women’s U19 European Championship finals, Italy needed to beat Sweden and rely on other results going their way. Instead, in Borås on the final matchday of Round 2, they were held to a goalless draw, ending their hopes of qualifying like they did in 2025, when their run in Poland saw them finish among Europe’s top four and secure a place at the U20 World Cup, set to take place in September, again in Poland.

Nicola Matteucci’s side bow out with their heads held high. The 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands three days earlier had already put their Group A5 campaign on the back foot, but in Borås they produced a performance that arguably deserved more. However, Sweden’s goalkeeper Karlsson proved decisive with a series of excellent saves, helping the hosts secure qualification for the finals, which will be held in Bosnia between 27 June and 10 July.

MATTEUCCI

“What the girls learnt last year’s experience, they will also take from this season,” the coach said. “Games can be decided by moments, like the ones against the Netherlands, but at this age that’s something you learn from and carry with you. We need to learn to find solutions to whatever happens on the pitch. It wasn’t easy to get the team back up mentally after a defeat like Tuesday’s, but they did it. They showed that you can make mistakes in a game, but you must never forget to honour the shirt. I also asked the staff to stay united and close to the team, as they have been throughout this journey, because these girls deserve it. Today we dominated from start to finish, even with ten players, and produced a strong performance both physically and technically. This team deserves credit, and I hope everyone who watched could see that.”

THE MATCH

Without Consolini (suspended) and Langella, who picked up an injury in the warm-up (Giudici came in to replace her), Matteucci went with Galli and Ferraresi up front. Italy created the better chances in the first half, the clearest falling to captain Maya Cherubini, whose curling effort was turned behind by Karlsson. After the break, with Ventriglia coming on for Ferraresi, Italy pushed again and came close twice in quick succession. Galli was denied by Karlsson coming off her line, then Ventriglia, set up brilliantly by Tosello, fired towards goal with her left foot, only to be stopped again by the Sweden goalkeeper. Karlsson was also alert later on to keep out Tosello.

Things then got harder for Italy after Caterina Venturelli was sent off, leaving them to finish the match with ten players.

SWEDEN 0–0 ITALY

SWEDEN (4-4-2): Karlsson; Mattsson, Broman, Kock (23’ st Sjöström), Klingspor; Staffansson, Staaf, Priks, Peterson; Lundin (37’ st Okara), Selin (10’ st Ekberg). Subs: Jurander, Enehov, Eriksson, Petz, Nylen, Wahlgren. Coach: Campos

ITALY (4-4-2): Bucci; Bonanomi (23’ st Zanoni), Venturelli, Bertola, Bertora; Appiah, Giudici (37’ st Bedini), Cherubini, Tosello; Ferraresi (13’ st Ventriglia), Galli (37’ st Romanelli). Subs: Mazzocchi, Lombardi, Vitale, Langella. Coach: Matteucci

Referee: Bockova (Slovakia)
Assistants: Lesková (Slovakia), Papadopoulou (Greece)
Fourth official: Mylopoulou (Greece)

Notes: Venturelli (I) sent off 28’ st for a foul.
Booked: Staffansson (S), Tosello (I), Ferraresi (I), Bertora (I), Peterson (S)