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WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - JULY 29: Italy players line up for the national anthem prior to the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group G match between Sweden and Italy at Wellington Regional Stadium on July 29, 2023 in Wellington / Te Whanganui-a-Tara, New Zealand. (Photo by Maja Hitij - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
The day after his presentation to the media that officially got his reign under way as Women's National First Team Head Coach, Andrea Soncin has announced his first squad of 29 players for the upcoming UEFA Women’s Nations League matches against Switzerland and Sweden,scheduled for Friday 22 September in San Gallo (19:30 CEST, live Rai Sport) and Tuesday 26 September in Castel di Sangro (17:45 CEST, live on Rai 2).
The main news with respect to the group that took part in the World Cup is the inclusion of Roberta Aprile, Katja Schroffenegger, Valentina Bergamaschi, Sara Gama, Alice Tortelli, Aurora Galli, Agnese Bonfantini and Martina Piemonte, while Maria Luisa Filangeri and Beatrice Merlo, who took part in preparations in New Zealand with the rest of the squad before returning home, have also been picked.
Italy will open up in UEFA's inaugural Women's competition away to Switzerland, an opponent they have beaten the most number of times in their history (16 in 22 meetings, considering all games since 1984 when the National side came under the guidance of the FIGC), even if in the last 13 years the record is four wins and three defeats. It will be the first time the Azzurre have played in San Gallo (in 2018, the Men's team played there).
A less positive record against the Swedes, who top the FIFA ranking following the World Cup. So far, the Azzurre have only run out winners four times in 24 meetings, with the last time a 5-0 loss in Wellington only a month or so ago. The Azzurre return to Castel di Sangro for the fifth time: three wins (over Romania, Malta and Croatia) and a draw with Spain, in a Euro 2022 warm-up friendly, that saw the first-ever goal conceded at the Teofilo Patini.
The group of players will meet up at Coverciano on Sunday 17 September, where they will remain and train until Wednesday 20, before then travelling to Zurich in the afternoon. The day after the game with Switzerland, the Azzurre will move onto Castel di Sangro to get ready for the game with Sweden.
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Squad List
Goalkeepers: Roberta Aprile (Juventus), Rachele Baldi (Fiorentina), Laura Giuliani (Milan), Katja Schroffenegger (Fiorentina);
Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (Roma), Valentina Bergamaschi (Milan), Lucia Di Guglielmo (Roma), Maria Luisa Filangeri (Sassuolo), Sara Gama (Juventus), Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elena Linari (Roma), Beatrice Merlo (Inter), Benedetta Orsi (Sassuolo), Alice Tortelli (Fiorentina);
Midfielders: Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Valentina Cernoia (Milan), Giulia Dragoni (Barcelona), Aurora Galli (Everton), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Giada Greggi (Roma);
Forwards: Chiara Beccari (Sassuolo), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Agnese Bonfantini (Inter), Sofia Cantore (Juventus), Valentina Giacinti (Roma), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Benedetta Glionna (Roma), Martina Piemonte (Everton), Annamaria Serturini (Roma).