Italian Women’s National Team: Pre-2023 World Cup squad named for Azzurre friendly vs Morocco
With the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand fast approaching, Italy coach Milena Bertolini has named a 32-player squad for their pre-tournament friendly against Morocco in Ferrara on July 1. The Azzurre will be hoping to give a better account of themselves than they managed at last summer's disappointing showing at the European Championship in England.
The Azzurre beat Colombia in the April international window in the only game they played, with other nations playing twice, and Bertolini's side will again play just one pre-World Cup friendly this summer.
A post-season training camp squad was named as soon as the domestic action in Italy ended, though it was largely free of Juventus and AS Roma players due to their participation in the Coppa Italia final in Salerno. Juventus won in stoppage time on that occasion to prevent the Giallorosse from claiming a domestic treble as Serie A Femminile and Supercoppa Italiana champions.
The 32-player squad named by Bertolini will have to be cut to 23 for the Women's World Cup, and the big absentee is long-term captain and Juventus stalwart Sara Gama. Agnese Bonfantini's omission also comes as a surprise, though exciting youngster Chiara Beccari's inclusion is one to keep an eye on after an excellent campaign on loan from the Bianconere at Como.
Italy Women’s National Team pre-2023 World Cup squad
Goalkeepers
Rachele Baldi (Fiorentina), 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 (Roma), Maria Luisa Filangeri (Sassuolo), Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elena Linari (Roma), Beatrice Merlo (Inter), Benedetta Orsi (Sassuolo), Julie Piga (FC Fleury 91), Chiara Robustellini (Inter), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus).
Midfielders
Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus), Giulia Dragoni (Barcelona), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Giada Greggi (Roma), Emma Severini (Fiorentina), Flaminia Simonetti (Inter), Eva Schatzer (Juventus).
Forwards
Chiara Beccari (Juventus/Como), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Sofia Cantore (Juventus), Valentina Giacinti (Roma), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Benedetta Glionna (Roma), Martina Piemonte (AC Milan), Annamaria Serturini (Roma).
When is the 2023 Women's World Cup?
The 2023 Women's World Cup is scheduled to kick off on July 20, 2023. The opening match is going to be between New Zealand and Norway, with the former being one of the two hosts.
That game takes place in Auckland at Eden Park. Norway are expected to be one of the strongest teams at the tournament so it could be a very tough evening for the hosts.
The group stage comes to a close on August 3, with the Round of 16 matches being played from August 5-8, the quarter-finals from August 11-12, the semi-finals from August 15-16, and then the final one month after it all began, on August 20.
2023 Women's World Cup groups
There are going to be eight groups of four teams at the 2023 Women's World Cup, making it the biggest Women's World Cup ever. That means more eyes and more coverage of the matches in Australia and New Zealand.
Italy have been placed in Group G, meaning they will be one of the last teams to get their campaign underway. Italy's group contains Sweden, South Africa and Argentina, meaning it would be a great achievement to get out of the group.
2023 Women’s World Cup: What group are Italy in?
The full groups can be found below...
Group A: New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland
Group B: Australia, Republic of Ireland, Nigeria, Canada
Group C: Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia, Japan
Group D: England, Haiti, Denmark, China
Group E: USA, Vietnam, Netherlands, Portugal
Group F: France, Jamaica, Brazil, Panama
Group G: Sweden, South Africa, Italy, Argentina
Group H: Germany, Morocco, Colombia, South Korea
How to watch the 2023 Women's World Cup
There has been drama around the coverage of the 2023 Women's World Cup with FIFA president Gianni Infantino threatening a European TV blackout for the tournament in response to the broadcasting offers from the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, and France. He labelled the offers as a "slap in the face" of the players and "all women worldwide".
According to Infantino, the broadcasters had offered $1m-$10m, which is very low compared to $100m-$200m for the men's World Cup. The situation has since been resolved with broadcasters, although much closer to the tournament start date than anyone would have liked.
Where to watch the Women's World Cup in the United Kingdom and Ireland
For those watching the 2023 Women's World Cup in the United Kingdom, all 64 of the matches are going to be broadcast on either the BBC or ITV. This only differs for the final, which will be shown on both.
In Ireland, the situation has been sewn up for much longer. Back in October, RTE announced that they will be showing every match of the World Cup.
Where to watch the Women's World Cup in the United States
In the United States of America, Fox Sports is your destination to watch all 64 games of the World Cup. They will be on television, whilst also being streamed on the Fox Sports App.
Twenty-nine of the games will be on Fox's broadcast network, whilst the other 35 will be on FS1. Every game from the quarter-finals onwards will be on the broadcast network.
Where to watch the Women's World Cup in Italy
Rai has announced that they will be showing exclusive free-to-air coverage of 15 matches at the Women's World Cup. This includes all of Italy's matches, as well as the opening match, the two semi-finals and the final.
Where to watch the Women's World Cup in Canada
In Canada, all of the Women's World Cup matches are going to be shown on TSN.
Where to watch the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand
For the host nations, Optus Sport is the place to watch the Women's World Cup in Australia, whilst those in New Zealand can tune in on Sky Sports NZ, Sky Go NZ, Sky Sport Now, with the primary channel differing for some matches.