After yesterday’s 0-0 draw with Sweden, the Women’s National Team were back on the pitch this morning in Parma to begin preparations for their final Nations League match. With the dream of qualifying for the Finals now gone, the Azzurre will face Wales away on Tuesday (19:30 CEST) with the aim of securing second place in the group and retaining their League A status.

To achieve this – regardless of the result between Sweden and Denmark – a win is required. By claiming all three points, Andrea Soncin’s team would achieve their aim. On the other hand, a draw or a defeat would see them finish behind the two Scandinavian sides in Group 4, and they would then be forced to play a relegation play-off at the end of October against a second-placed team from League B (the potential draw is scheduled for 6 June) to maintain their spot in League A.

Securing a victory in Swansea – Italy’s first ever trip to Welsh soil – will be anything but easy. Although they are mathematically certain to finish bottom, the players coached by Canadian Rhian Wilkinson have proven throughout the campaign that they belong on this stage, holding their own despite only earning two points. Wales’ quality and determination were evident in their two draws against Sweden and their three narrow defeats to Italy and Denmark, who, thanks to a goal from Harder, clinched victory yesterday in a match where The Dragons came close to equalising on several occasions.

Italy will once again train at Parma’s training centre tomorrow morning before flying to Cardiff in the afternoon. From there, the team will travel to nearby Swansea, where they will hold their final training session on Monday at the 21,000-seat stadium that will host the match.

Programme

Sunday 1 June
Morning training session
17:30 CEST – Flight from Parma to Cardiff and transfer to Swansea

Monday 2 June
18:30 CEST – MD-1 official training session – Swansea Stadium

Tuesday 3 June
19:30 CEST – Wales vs. ITALY – Swansea Stadium
Afterwards, the team will return to Italy and the delegation will be disbanded.

CALENDAR, RESULTS AND STANDINGS, LEAGUE A GROUP 4

Matchday 1: ITALY 1-0 Wales, Denmark 1-2 Sweden
Matchday 2: ITALY 1-3 Denmark, Wales 1-1 Sweden
Matchday 3:  Sweden 3-2 ITALY, Wales 1-2 Denmark
Matchday 4: Denmark 0-3 ITALY, Sweden 1-1 Wales

Standings: Sweden and Denmark 9 points, ITALY 7, Wales 2

Matchday 5 (30 May): ITALY 0-0 Sweden, Denmark 1-0 Wales
Matchday 6 (3 June): Wales vs. ITALY (Swansea, 19:30 CEST), Sweden vs. Denmark (Solna, 19:30 CEST)