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The Azzurrine’s outstanding run at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup came to an end in the semi-finals as Italy suffered a 2-0 defeat to Spain in Lodz, Poland. The result sadly echoed last year’s UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship semi-final, when Spain also beat Italy by the same scoreline.
There is little time for tears, however, and Nicola Matteucci is already looking ahead. After the final whistle, he gathered his players in a huddle in the centre circle, making it clear that this was not a farewell to the competition. Italy will face the losers of the other semi-final between North Korea and Colombia in Saturday’s third-place play-off at 18:00 CEST. A prestigious medal is at stake, which would equal the best-ever finish by an Italian women’s national team at a FIFA World Cup, which was third place at the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
“Playing in a World Cup semi-final was a dream before the competition,” the Italy coach said after the game. “It’s right that the girls set no limits and are disappointed when they don’t win. But this disappointment must last for as little time as possible, because our aim is now the third-place play-off. We still have an opportunity to show what we are capable of.”
Captain Azzurra Gallo echoed those sentiments: “It’s disappointing to have come so close to the final, we believed we could make it… but they were better today. We have another game to play, though, and we’ll give everything to bring home a medal. We’ve come this far and we certainly won’t give up now.”
The match. Matteucci changed his tactical set-up in an attempt to surprise Spain, starting with a back four and a front three of Galli, Appiah and Pellegrino Cimò. Sofia Testa returned to the starting XI in midfield after missing the opening match against the United States. For Spain, coach Aznar initially left Rosalìa Dominguez on the bench.
The first big chance came within the first three minutes, when Agote was picked out in the box but failed to find the target. Spain made the better start, looking more dangerous in possession and trying their luck from distance. Italy goalkeeper Belli was first called into action in the 19th minute, doing well to get down to Libran’s free-kick. Spain thought they had taken the lead in the 33rd minute when Alba Cerrato raced onto a well-weighted pass and finished from the edge of the offside line, but Romanian referee Pesu, ruled it out for an earlier foul on Pellegrino Cimò, after being called to the VAR monitor. It was a difficult first half for Matteucci’s side, who were forced to absorb Spain’s pressure and spent long periods without the ball. It was not entirely unexpected, though. Five minutes before half-time, just as Italy appeared to be containing Spain’s attack, Aznar’s side took the lead. Agote’s cross from the right took a wicked deflection off Gallo, sending the ball on a deceptive trajectory that caught Belli out and left her unable to push it beyond the post. Spain were 1-0 up. The goal gave Italy fresh impetus as they were forced to push higher up the pitch. In stoppage time, Fadda created Italy’s first real opening of the game, but her solo effort was too central to trouble Lopez. The half-time statistics told the story: Spain had 14 shots to Italy’s one.
Spain continued to press at the start of the second half, although Galli’s run down the wing in the 50th minute briefly caused concern for Aznar. Seven minutes later, Spain doubled their lead. Agote once again burst forward on the counter-attack and squared the ball for Pau to tap into an open net. With a two-goal advantage, Spain managed the game comfortably, slowing the tempo and seeing out the match without too many scares. The final whistle confirmed a 2-0 victory.
Now it is all about Saturday. It is time to dry the tears and focus on what is to come because, however you look at it, the third-place play-off offers the Azzurrine another chance to make history.
Italy 0-2 Spain (0-1 half time)
ITALY: Belli; Tosello, Venturelli, Bressa, Gallo; Fadda (79’ Langella), Cherubini (55’ Catena), Testa; Galli (79’ Ventriglia), Appiah (66’ Cocino), Pellegrino Cimò (66’ Zamboni). Subs: Tornaghi, Di Nallo, Consolini, Lombardi, Sciabica. Coach: Matteucci
SPAIN: Laia; Carla Julia (91’ Torres), Cristobal, Aicha, Noa Jimenez; Libràn (62’ Gurtubay), Irune, Ainoa (73’ Segura); Agote, Alba Cerrato (73’ Garcia M.), Pau (62’ Dominguez). Subs: Alvarez, Estensoro, Garcia A., Bejarano, Penalvo. Coach: Aznar
Referee: Pesu (ROU). Assistants: Costantinescu (ROU) and Hyvoenen (FIN). Fourth official: Araya (CRC)
Goals: 40’ og Belli, 57’ Pau
Notes - Added time: 3’ first half, 5’ second half. Venturelli booked
The squad selected for the World Cup
Goalkeepers: Elena Belli (Inter), Erica Di Nallo (Vicenza), Lavinia Tornaghi (AC Milan);
Defenders: Martina Bressan (Inter), Martina Cocino (Aarau), Lidia Consolini (Lazio), 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 (Barcelona), Giada Pellegrino Cimò (Roma), Manuela Sciabica (Lazio), Rosanna Ventriglia (Ternana Women).
Staff – Coach: Nicola Matteucci; methodology coach: Fabio Andolfo; assistant coach: Erika Lisi; goalkeeping coach: Mattia Volpi; fitness coaches: Lorenzo Corsi and Vincenzo Piermatteo; match analyst: Alessandro Rossi; doctors: Michela Cammarano and Alessandro Carducci; physiotherapists: Marco Fiore and Eugenio Zarcone; nutritionist: Vito Flavio Valletta; secretary: Aurora