Italy player ratings vs Belgium: Severini impresses as Caruso goal secures Azzurre victory
The Italy Women's National Team got their EURO 2025 campaign off to a winning start with a narrow 1-0 victory against Belgium at the Stade Tourbillon in Sion, Switzerland.
Whilst acquiring three points was the primary target for Andrea Soncin's side on Thursday evening, it was still a performance that left plenty to be desired from an Italian perspective. Multiple star players struggled to impact themselves on the game, but Arianna Caruso's first-half goal means that the Azzurre go top of Group B for the time being.
There was some initial confusion as to what formation Soncin was playing when the lineup was announced, but it soon became clear that it was a 3-5-2 with Martina Lenzini joining Elena Linari and Cecilia Salvai in the back three.
Italy player ratings vs Belgium at Women’s EURO 2025
Giuliani 6; Lenzini 5.5 (72' Julie Piga 5.5), Salvai 6.5, Linari 6; Di Guglielmo 6.5 (53' Oliviero 6.5), Caruso 6.5, Severini 7, Giugliano 6.5 (53' Greggi 6.5), Boattin 4.5; Cantore 6 (72' Cambiaghi 6), Girelli 5.5.
Italy Player of the Match - Emma Severini
Every Italy player will have come off the pitch in Switzerland knowing that it was not their best performance, but Emma Severini deserves praise for such an accomplished major tournament debut with the Azzurre. The 21-year-old started thanks to Giada Greggi's lack of match fitness, and it did take some time before she started to express herself.
Midway through the first half, though, the Fiorentina player started breaking up Belgium's play very effectively. As the game progressed, she began to show what she can offer in attack too with some very neat touches. Given the quality of Arianna Caruso and Manuela Giugliano, and the impressive performance from Greggi off the bench, Soncin has got a tough task on his hands when it comes to selecting a midfield against Portugal.