To secure their place in the knockout stage with a game to spare, the Italy U20 Women’s National Team will face New Zealand tomorrow at 15:00 CEST (live on Rai Sport) in the second match of their World Cup campaign. The Azzurrine will be looking to repeat Sunday’s achievement against the United States and secure a result that eluded Italy in their only other appearance at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, in 2012, when their campaign ended at the group stage.

After their extraordinary opening-day victory against one of the tournament’s favourites, the Azzurrine could face challenges on several fronts. Mentally, they must maintain their focus after such a high-level performance, while tactically they will need an entirely different game plan from the one used two days ago.

“We played the game against the United States with great quality and personality: we deserved the win,” coach Nicola Matteucci said after the final training session, reflecting on what happened two days ago in Lodz before immediately turning his attention to tomorrow. “Obviously, after a victory like that, there is huge excitement at having achieved something unique. The girls know they have made history in women’s football, but they want to go even further and not stop at what has already been achieved. We need to regain our balance and prepare for the game with the utmost attention, taking care of every detail.”

“The game against the USA was very demanding in every respect, both physically and mentally,” goalkeeper Elena Belli said. She played a decisive role with several key saves in Sunday’s match. Manuela Sciabica, who made an immediate impact after coming on against the United States, highlighted the strength of the group: “Being at the World Cup is a unique feeling. We are a team that has been wearing the Azzurri shirt together for many years, since the U15s. And being here for this experience is truly fantastic.”

The opposition. New Zealand are regulars at this youth World Cup and have not missed a finals tournament since 2006, when the competition became an U20 tournament. The only time the New Zealanders progressed beyond the group stage came in 2014, when they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Nigeria, who went on to reach the final. In their opening match of this tournament, the young Football Ferns lost to Japan, the reigning world runners-up, with Japan’s 2-1 winner coming from a penalty deep into stoppage time. The statistics showed a 30-3 shot advantage for the Asian side, but New Zealand’s defensive resilience, sitting deep and holding out under sustained pressure, is one of the team’s strengths. Forward Vlock is also one to watch; she is a quick player who produced the solo run and subsequent assist for New Zealand’s temporary equaliser against Japan.

The World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Elena Belli (Inter), Erica Di Nallo (Vicenza), Lavinia Tornaghi (AC Milan);

Defenders: Martina Bressan (Inter), Martina Cocino (Aarau), Lidia Consolini (Inter), Azzurra Gallo (Tolosa), Emma Lombardi (Fiorentina), Martina Tosello (Cesena), Caterina Venturelli (Sassuolo);

Midfielders: Giada Catena (Res Donna Roma), Maya Cherubini (Fiorentina), Paola Fadda (Sassuolo), Gabriella Langella (Napoli Women), Sofia Testa (Ternana Women), Marta Zamboni (Como Women);

Forwards: Karen Appiah (Cesena), Giulia Galli (Barcellona), Giada Pellegrino Cimò (Roma), Manuela Sciabica (Lazio), Rosanna Ventriglia (Ternana Women).

Staff – Coach: Nicola Matteucci; methodology coach: Fabio Andolfo; assistant coach: Erika Lisi; goalkeeper coach: Mattia Volpi; fitness coaches: Lorenzo Corsi and Vincenzo Piermatteo; match analyst: Alessandro Rossi; doctors: Michela Cammarano and Andrea Gattelli; physiotherapists: Marco Fiore and Eugenio Zarcone; nutritionist: Vito Flavio Valletta; secretary: Aurora Leo.

Group D: results, standings and fixtures

Sunday 6 September
Japan 2-1 New Zealand
United States 1-2 Italy

Wednesday 9 September
Italy vs New Zealand, 15:00 CEST (live on Rai Sport)
Japan vs United States, 18:00 CEST

Saturday 12 September
Italy vs Japan, 15:00 CEST (live on Rai Sport)
New Zealand vs United States, 15:00 CEST

Standings: Japan and Italy 3 points, United States and New Zealand 0

World Cup groups

Group A: Poland, Argentina, Mexico, Benin
Group B: Brazil, Tanzania, Canada, England
Group C: France, South Korea, Ecuador, Ghana
Group D: Japan, New Zealand, United States, ITALY
Group E: North Korea, Portugal, Costa Rica, Colombia
Group F: Spain, Nigeria, New Caledonia, China