The calm before the storm. That’s how you could describe the moment for Italy Women, who arrived in Bern this afternoon for the walkaround at the Stadion Wankdorf. Tomorrow’s match – the Azzurre’s final group game – is expected to be a sell-out and will decide the fate of the team’s European campaign. With a win or a draw against world champions Spain, Andrea Soncin’s team will qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time since 2013, thus achieving their set goal. Qualification could still be possible even in defeat. In that scenario, Portugal’s result becomes crucial: they must beat Belgium and overturn a six-goal deficit in the standings to advance ahead of Italy.

“We’re here to progress to the knockouts and make history,” said the Head Coach at today’s press conference. “We’re aware of our qualities and ready to play a great match. We know our opponents well, and we’ll need to be very effective when we have the ball to counter their possession game. There will be many situations where we can hurt them defensively. I haven’t decided on the line-up yet, but as a team, we’ve shown that we can adapt depending on the game plan and our opponents. The stats show that there were moments in the first two matches when we were in full control of proceedings, but we definitely need to improve in front of goal.”

Respect, but no fear – as shown in the last two clashes with the Spaniards, who nonetheless scored goals in their first two group matches. A prolific side who can also count on the returning Aitana Bonmatí for the rest of the competition, fully recovered after the meningitis that sidelined her for the first two games. However, La Roja, already assured of qualification, will have to face the determination of the Azzurre: “This will be a decisive match and we’re preparing for it calmly,” said Arianna Caruso, who reached 60 caps for the National Team on Monday against Portugal. “We’re a great team: we have the second-best defense in the tournament and rank second in shots on target. We’ll need to be more clinical, but the group is confident we have all the qualities to progress. We feel the support of our fans, and tomorrow we hope to excite and inspire many more people.”

Nearly 33,000 spectators are expected at the stadium, and cheering on Italy in the stands will be FIGC General Secretary, Marco Brunelli, and the President of the Professional Women’s Serie A Division, Federica Cappelletti. A win against Montserrat Tomé’s team, who Italy already beat in Pontevedra in the Nations League in 2023, would secure first place in Group B. But no matter where the Azzurre finish in the group, the key objective is to qualify for the knockouts. If they reach the quarter-finals, the Azzurre will face one of the two qualifiers from Group A, which concludes tonight: at 21:00 CEST, Norway – already guaranteed first place – will play Finland, while Switzerland, the host nation, and Finland, both currently tied on three points, will battle it out for second place.

SPAIN’S NUMBERS. Spain’s attacking numbers have been particularly impressive during the first 180 minutes of EURO 2025. La Roja have scored an impressive eleven goals (through seven different players); only England – with 14 goals at EURO 2022 – have done better in a single group stage. Spain could become the first national team to score at least four goals in three consecutive matches at either a Women’s World Cup or a European Championship. “We won’t have to sit deep against Spain,” said Soncin after the Portugal game – a clear message that the Azzurre want to avoid being pinned back in their own penalty area. Spain’s 113 touches in the opposition box so far represent the highest figure at EURO 2025.

Tomé’s players press relentlessly: they lead the rankings for ball recoveries within 40 metres of the opposition goal (46) and for shots taken following those recoveries (twelve). Their shooting stats are equally impressive: their 55 total attempts and 18 shots on target (Italy are second with 13) are both records at the current tournament. It won’t be easy to contain the reigning world champions, who have shown they have plenty of weapons at their disposal. In fact, they rank first both for goals from open play (seven) and from set pieces (four, all from corners) in this early stage of the competition.

GROUP B: CALENDAR, RESULTS AND STANDINGS

MATCHDAY 1 (3 JULY)
Belgium 0-1 Italy
Spain 5-0 Portugal

MATCHDAY 2 (7 JULY)
Portugal 1-1 Italy
Spain 6-2 Belgium

Standings: Spain 6 points, Italy 4, Portugal 1, Belgium 0

MATCHDAY 3 (11 JULY)
21:00 CEST – ITALY vs. Spain, Bern
21:00 CEST – Portugal vs. Belgium