At the Paolo Mazza in Ferrara, Italy Women beat Switzerland 3-1 in their final friendly before the World Cup. In the same stadium where they picked up three vital points against Belgium a year ago during their World Cup qualifying campaign, the fruits of the work they’ve done in the last three weeks could be seen as goals from Aurora Galli, Cristiana Girelli and Daniela Sabatino secured an excellent win against a side ranked 18th in the FIFA ranking. This was a good test for Milena Bertolini’s side, with the Azzurre now set to travel to France with the awareness that they’re able to compete with rivals of great calibre such as Australia and Brazil. “It was a good performance,” said the Head Coach after the game. “I saw a great Italy side, even if we need to improve our management of the ball and keep the pressure high. I would like to ask Italians to follow us because these girls will bring them great satisfaction.”

THE GAME. For this friendly ahead of the World Cup, and with the FIGC’s Director General Marco Brunelli watching on, Milena Bertolini selected a team that will resemble Italy’s starting line-up on 9 June in Valenciennes, when the Azzurre will play their opening match against Australia: Giuliani started in goal, while Gama and Linari lined up in central defence in front of her. Bergamaschi and Guagni were chosen as the full-backs, while Giugliano, Cernoia and Galli formed a trio in midfield. Mauro and Bonansea were selected up front with Girelli just in behind them. For Switzerland, Ramona Bachmann took her place up front. The Chelsea striker scored a brace when Switzerland beat Italy in Cesena during the European Championship qualifying campaign for the 2017 tournament in the Netherlands.

The match began in a lively fashion as Girelli shot wide after five minutes and Switzerland had a goal ruled out a minute later for offside. After eight minutes, the Azzurre came so close to breaking the deadlock, but Valentina Cernoia’s free kick rattled the bar before going out for a goal kick. Italy were pressing high and looking to take the game to the away side, who were happy to try to hit Bertolini’s side on the counter. Cernoia was once again involved in the action on the half-hour mark as she played in Aurora Galli for Italy’s opening goal, with the latter eventually managing to force the ball home despite the desperate attempts of Thalmann and her defence to stop the Juventus midfielder from finding the back of the net. As the first half was coming to an end, Bonansea struck the woodwork following Girelli’s cross. After taking a knock to her hip, Alia Guagni was replaced by Elisa Bartoli before Giuliani did well to keep out Megroz’s long-range strike to ensure that Italy took a lead into half-time.

The Italian goalkeeper once again came to the rescue at the start of the second half as she managed to save Maritz’s effort with her legs. Reuteler did manage to turn home the rebound, but the offside flag was raised and Switzerland had a goal ruled out for the second time. Sabatino came on for Mauro and Italy came close to doubling their lead with 55 minutes on the clock: Bonansea beat a defender before finding the onrushing Bergamaschi, but Thalmann was on hand to keep the score at 1-0. The Azzurre continued to look for a second and in doing so allowed Switzerland to hit them on the break on a few occasions. Girelli then shot narrowly off target from distance before the same player demonstrated her eye for goal as she found the back of the net in the 63rd minute: the Juventus forward got on the end of Manuela Giugliano’s great cross to score her 29th goal for the National Team. Milena Bertolini then rang the changes: the two architects of the second goal, Giugliano and Girelli, were replaced by Parisi and Giacinti before Boattin and Rosucci came on for Bergamaschi and Galli. A third goal seemed to be on its way, but Switzerland managed to reduce the arrears with 83 minutes on the clock as Reuteler scored following a corner. With time almost up, the Azzurre did manage to get a third: Daniela Sabatino converted Bonansea’s ball into the box to make it 3-1. On Sunday, Italy will depart for France, with Bertolini’s side then set to play World Cup football for the first time in 20 years starting from 9 June in Valenciennes.

ITALY 3-1 SWITZERLAND

Goals: 32’ Galli (I), 61’ Girelli (I), 83’ Reuteler (S), 89’ Sabatino (I)

ITALY (4-3-1-2): Giuliani; Bergamaschi (75’Boattin), Gama, Linari, Guagni (43’ Bartoli); Giugliano (66’ Parisi), Cernoia, Galli (75’ Rosucci); Girelli (66’ Giacinti); Mauro (53’ Sabatino), Bonansea. Subs: Marchitelli, Tarenzi, Serturini, Fusetti, Tucceri Cimini. Head Coach: Milena Bertolini.

SWITZERLAND (4-2-3-1): Thalmann; Rinast, Maritz, Kiwic, Calligaris (79’ Calò); Gut (58’ Mauron), Bernauer; Bachmann (79’Dubs), Megroz (46’ Surdez), Widmer (46’ Stapelfeldt); Reuteler. Subs: Herzog. Head Coach: Nils Nielsen.

Referee: Tess Olofsson (SVE). Assistants: Josefin Aronsson (SVE), Almira Spahic (SVE). Fourth official: Gabriella Pirriatore (ITA).

Notes: Attendance 1700. Booking Mauron (S).

World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Laura Giuliani (Juventus), Chiara Marchitelli (Florentia), Rosalia Pipitone (AS Roma);

Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (AS Roma), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Laura Fusetti (Milan), Sara Gama (Juventus), Alia Guagni (Fiorentina Women’s), Elena Linari (Atletico Madrid), Linda Tucceri Cimini (Milan);

Midfielders: Valentina Bergamaschi (Milan), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus), Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Milan), Alice Parisi (Fiorentina Women’s), Martina Rosucci (Juventus), Annamaria Serturini (AS Roma);

Forwards: Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina Women’s), Daniela Sabatino (Milan), Stefania Tarenzi (Chievo Verona).

National Team schedule (all times CEST)

Saturday 1 June
11:30 – Meeting with the President of the Senate
Team will then travel to the Mancini Park Hotel in Rome
17:30 - Training (first 15 minutes open to public)

Sunday 2 June
10:00 - Training (behind closed doors)
15:15 - Flight from Rome to Brussels
17:30 - Bus to Valenciennes

Monday 3 June
16:30/17:00 – Training at Valenciennes FC’s Sports Centre (behind closed doors)

Tuesday 4 June
10:00 – Training (behind closed doors)
16:30/17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

Wednesday 5 June
11:00 – Public training session at the Stadio Christophe Laurent in Valenciennes
14:00 – Lunch
Followed by a press conference with a player at the Hotel.

Thursday 6 June
10:00 – Training at the Stadio Christophe Laurent in Valenciennes (first 15 minutes open to public)
Press commitments to follow
12:30 – Lunch

Friday 7 June
11:00 – Training at the Stadio Christophe Laurent in Valenciennes (behind closed doors)
14:00 - Lunch
Followed by a press conference with a player at the Hotel.

Saturday 8 June
11:00 CEST – Training at the Stadio Christophe Laurent in Valenciennes (first 15 minutes open to public)
13:30 – Press conference at the Stadio du Hainaut (Head Coach and a player)
14:00 - Walk around

Sunday 9 June
13:00 – Australia vs. Italy (Stadio du Hainaut)
Followed by press conference

Monday 10 June
10:00 – Training at the Stadio Christophe Laurent in Valenciennes (first 15 minutes open to public)
Followed by press commitments
12:30 - Lunch
14:00 – Departure for Reims from Valenciennes
16:15 – Arrival in Reims

Tuesday 11 June
13:00 – Lunch
Followed by a press conference with a player at the Hotel
18:00 – Training at the Stadio Jean Bucton (first 15 minutes open to public)

Wednesday 12 June
13:00 – Lunch
Followed by a press conference with a player at the Hotel
18:00 – Training at the Stadio Jean Bucton (behind closed doors)

Thursday 13 June
11:00 – Training at the Stadio Jean Bucton (first 15 minutes open to public)
18:30 – Press conference at the Stadio Auguste Delaune (Head Coach and a player)
19:00 - Walk around

Friday 14 June
18:00 – Jamaica vs. Italy (Stadio Auguste Delaune)
Followed by press conference

Saturday 15 June
10:00 – Training (first 15 minutes open to public)
Followed by press commitments
12:30 - Lunch
14:00 – Bus for Lille
16:45 – Arrival in Lille

Sunday 16 June
12:30 – Lunch
Followed by a press conference with a player at the Hotel
18:00 – Training at Le Stadium in Villeneuve d’Ascq (behind closed doors)

Monday 17 June
17:00 – Press conference at the Stadio du Hainaut (Head Coach and a player)
19:00 – Training at Le Stadium in Villeneuve d’Ascq (first 15 minutes open to public)

Tuesday 18 June
21:00 – Italy vs. Brasile (Stadio du Hainaut)
Followed by press conference

N.B. The schedule could be subject to changes