Alfredo Paniccia’s first camp in charge of the Italy Women’s Futsal National Team is fast approaching. The new head coach has already named his first squad, with the Azzurre set to gather at Novarello from 7 to 10 September for four days of training. It will give Paniccia his first opportunity to assess the team at close quarters as they begin a new chapter with a clear objective: qualifying for UEFA Women’s Futsal EURO 2027 in Croatia.

The Elite round begins in October. The four group winners and the two best runners-up will qualify directly, while the two lowest-ranked runners-up will contest a play-off to determine the seventh and final team to reach the finals, which have been expanded to eight teams for the first time. Italy have been drawn alongside Slovenia, three-time defending European champions Spain and France. With little time to spare, Paniccia will hope the Novarello camp provides some early answers.

THE SQUAD. The 20-player squad contains no first-time call-ups. Federica Belli returns for the first time since December 2024, having earned 31 caps and scored 17 goals for Italy. Cecilia Barca, Silvia Praticò, Elisa Narcisi and Rafaela Dal’Maz are also back, with the latter last featuring in the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup quarter-final in the Philippines last December.

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Denise Carturan (Bitonto), Anthea Polloni (Women Roma), Ana Carolina Sestari (Città di Falconara);

Outfield players: Renata Adamatti (CMB Futsal Team), Cecilia Barca (Lazio C5), Federica Belli (CMB Futsal Team), Sara Boutimah (CMB Futsal Team), Sara Conticelli (Lazio C5), Ludovica Coppari (TikiTaka Adriatica), Rafaela Dal’Maz (Estrela Revoltosa Verin), Rebecca De Siena (TikiTaka Adriatica), Erika Ferrara (Città di Falconara), Greta Ghilardi (Bitonto), Alessia Grieco (Bitonto), Nicoletta Mansueto (TikiTaka Adriatica), Greta Maretti (Ceuta Feminino), Elisa Narcisi (Città di Falconara), Silvia Praticò (Città di Falconara), Gaby Vanelli (SL Benfica), Alice Virdis (Cagliari C5).

Staff – Head Coach: Alfredo Paniccia; Head of Delegation: Stefano Castiglia; Technical Area Coordinator: Antonio Scocca; Secretary: Aldo Blessich; Assistant Coach: Giulia Lisi; Fitness Coach: Gianni Colagiovanni; Goalkeeping Coach: Antonio Maggi; Match Analyst: Riccardo Manno; Doctor: Pierluigi Martinelli; Physiotherapist: Claudio Princiotta Spanò; Nutritionist: Jacopo Tadini.