PHOTO
Two wins from two at the World Cup, a tournament Italy had not featured in for 14 years – their only previous appearance. Few could have predicted before the competition that, after being drawn in such a demanding group alongside the United States and Japan, the Women’s Under-20 National Team would go into their final group match knowing that a win or a draw would be enough to finish top.
That position, however, is the product of two thoroughly deserved victories. Italy first came from behind to beat the USA, before overcoming New Zealand in a game made difficult by their opponents’ defensive resilience. Once the breakthrough came, the Azzurrine took control and pulled clear late on to complete a 3-0 win.
The figures underline just how much these two victories have been the product of a collective effort. Seventeen of Italy’s 18 outfield players have already featured in the opening two matches, with Venturelli the only exception. Her suspension ran through yesterday, meaning she will be available again for the game against Japan.
Possible last-16 scenarios. Saturday’s meeting with Japan in Lodz at 15:00 (live on Rai Sport) will effectively decide top spot in Group D, with the Azzurrine knowing that a draw will be enough to finish first. Italy are already guaranteed to avoid both elimination and third place, leaving two possible routes into the knockout stage. If they top the group, they will face one of the best third-placed teams. If they finish second, they will meet the winners of Group E, which also includes the highly rated reigning champions North Korea. In the latter scenario, the Azzurrine would stay in Lodz and return to action on Thursday 17 at 18:30, once again at the Stadion Miejski, where they have played all their matches so far. Should Italy win the group – which, as noted, they will do with either a victory or a draw against Japan on Saturday – they will instead travel to Sosnowiec, an industrial city of around 190,000 inhabitants in the Silesian Voivodeship, north-east of Katowice. That would mean a round-of-16 tie on Wednesday 16 at 18:30 against a third-placed side from Group B, E or F. It is still too early to say who that opponent might be, both because several matches remain to be played and because FIFA determines the pairings involving third-placed teams through the table reproduced below. The picture should become clearer in the next couple of days, once at least four of the six groups have been completed.
In short, there is little point in worrying about the permutations. This group of players and staff are simply taking it one game at a time, with their full focus now on Japan, the reigning FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup runners-up.
World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Elena Belli (Inter), Erica Di Nallo (Vicenza), Lavinia Tornaghi (Milan);
Defenders: Martina Bressan (Inter), Martina Cocino (Aarau), Lidia Consolini (Inter), 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 (Barcellona), Giada Pellegrino Cimò (Roma), Manuela Sciabica (Lazio), Rosanna Ventriglia (Ternana Women).
Staff – Head 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 Andrea Gattelli; physiotherapists: Marco Fiore and Eugenio Zarcone; nutritionist: Vito Flavio Valletta; team secretary: Aurora Leo.
Group D: results, standings and fixtures
Sunday 6 September
Japan 2-1 New Zealand
Wednesday 9 September
Japan 2-2 United States
Saturday 12 September
Italy vs Japan, 15:00 (live on Rai Sport)
New Zealand vs United States, 15:00
Standings: Italy 6 points, Japan 4, United States 1, New Zealand 0
World Cup groups
Group A: Poland, Argentina, Mexico, Benin
Group B: Brazil, Tanzania, Canada, England
Group C: France, South Korea, Ecuador, Ghana
Group D: Japan, New Zealand, United States, ITALY
Group E: North Korea, Portugal, Costa Rica, Colombia
Group F: Spain, Nigeria, New Caledonia, China