Italy Women’s coach Milena Bertolini has announced her 24-player squad for the final two World Cup qualifying matches of the campaign which is predominantly made up of Serie A Femminile stars.
The Azzurre will be up against Romania and Moldova and if they win the two games, they will book their place in the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The first game will be against the Moldovans in Chisinau on September 2 and then Italy will be taking on Romania on September 6 at the Stadio Paolo Mazza in Ferrara.
Where are Italy in their World Cup qualification group?
Bertolini’s side are currently sitting at the top of their qualification group which means that if they can get two victories from their final two games, they will have booked their place in the 2023 tournament.
Switzerland are in second place and are just two points behind. Romania are also not entirely out of the picture as they are on 16 points.
The team that finishes at the top of the group goes straight to the tournament but second place most go through a qualification stage.
Who is in Italy’s World Cup qualifiers squad?
The two primary missing players from the squad are injured Juventus duo Sara Gama and Barbara Bonansea.
Bertolini will be hoping that the unsuccessful Women’s Euro 2022 has not affected the confidence and cohesion that the squad was showing before the tournament.
It will be interesting to see if she chooses to use younger stars such as Sofia Cantore and Benedetta Glionna who were not taken to the tournament in England.
Italy squad for 2023 Women’s World Cup qualifiers Romania and Moldova
Goalkeepers: Francesca Durante (Inter), Laura Giuliani (AC Milan), Katja Schroffenegger (Fiorentina).
Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (AS Roma), Valentina Bergamaschi (AC Milan), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Lucia Di Guglielmo (AS Roma), Maria Luisa Filangeri (Sassuolo), Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elena Linari (AS Roma), Angelica Soffia (AC Milan).
Midfielders: Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus), Aurora Galli (Everton), Manuela Giugliano (AS Roma), Giada Greggi (AS Roma), Martina Rosucci (Juventus), Flaminia Simonetti (Inter).
Strikers: Agnese Bonfantini (Juventus), Sofia Cantore (Juventus), Valentina Giacinti (AS Roma), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Benedetta Glionna (AS Roma), Martina Piemonte (AC Milan).
