Italian Women’s National Team: Azzurre squad for Colombia friendly named

Italy have just one friendly during the upcoming women's international break, and coach Milena Bertolini has named her squad, including exciting Como pair Matilde Pavan and Chiara Beccari.

Conor Clancy

March 31, 2023

Italy Women — The Azzurre, or Italy's national women's team, celebrate a goal. (@AzzurreFIGC)

Milena Bertolini has named her squad for the Italian Women’s National Team’s friendly with Colombia as the Azzurre continue their preparation for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. This time, Bertolini has included some new names in the squad.

The outstanding inclusions are Como pair Matilde Pavan and Chiara Beccari – on loan at Como from Inter and Juventus respectively. Both have shone in Serie A Femminile this season despite Como’s struggles, though Beccari has recently missed a number of games through injury. There had been suggestions that she was to be included in the squad for the recent Arnold Clark Cup, only for injury to have removed her from contention.

It’s often said of left feet, but can right feet also be wands? Because Matilde Pavan’s absolutely is! 🪄

She’s got a very bright future ahead of her. ✨💫#SerieAFemminile pic.twitter.com/3b6UKQAUp8
— Total Italian Football (@SerieATotal) March 25, 2023

Another surprise inclusion is 16-year-old promise Giulia Dragoni. The midfielder joined Barcelona Femeni in the winter transfer window from Inter, and there is a lot of expectation around what she could go on to achieve in her career. Along with fellow teenagers Pavan, Beccari and Dragoni, Juventus‘ 18-year-old midfielder Eva Schatzer has also been called up.

Italy National Women’s Team squad for April 2023 Colombia friendly

Manuela Giugliano celebrates scoring for Italy’s Women’s team. (@AzzurreFIGC)

In all, Milena Bertolini has named a 30-player squad for the friendly against Colombia, which will be played in Rome on April 11.

The full Azzurre squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers

Rachele Baldi (Fiorentina), Francesca Durante (Inter), Laura Giuliani (AC Milan).

Defenders

Elisa Bartoli (AS Roma), Valentina Bergamaschi (AC Milan), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Lucia Di Guglielmo (Roma), Maria Luisa Filangeri (Sassuolo), Sara Gama (Juventus), Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elena Linari (Roma), Benedetta Orsi (Sassuolo), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus).

Midfielders

Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Michela Catena (Fiorentina), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus), Giulia Dragoni (Barcelona), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Giada Greggi (Roma), Matilde Pavan (Como), Flaminia Simonetti (Inter), Eva Schatzer (Juventus).

Forwards

Chiara Beccari (Como), Barabara Bonansea (Juventus), Sofia Cantore (Juventus), Valentina Giacinti (Roma), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Benedetta Glionna (Roma), Martina Piemonte (AC Milan), Annamaria Serturini (Roma).