Dissecting Italy’s Women’s EURO 2025 win over Belgium: Soncin’s selection, strange substitutions, three crucial points
Italy secured their first three points of their UEFA Women's EURO 2025 campaign against Belgium on Matchday 1 thanks to an Arianna Caruso strike on the cusp of half-time. It was not a performance that will live long in the memory, but it does put the Azzurre a win away from reaching the quarter-finals.
After being labelled by some as the continent's 'dark horses' for the tournament, the pressure on the Azzurre felt different than in previous years. They have grown as a team under coach Andrea Soncin, with players such as Manuela Giugliano, Arianna Caruso and Sofia Cantore becoming more recognisable names outside of Italy.
With this new abundance of talent and expectation, there was an immense amount of intrigue around how Soncin would set up his team in his first major tournament, especially given he has never settled on a clear shape or starting lineup in the recent past.
Soncin makes big calls for EURO 2025 opener
After much speculation, Soncin oped for a 3-5-2 formation against Belgium with the following starting XI: Giuliani; Linari, Salvai, Lenzini; Di Guglielmo; Severini, Giugliano, Caruso, Boattin; Cantore, Girelli.
For weeks on the Total Italian Football Women's Football podcast, we've toyed with many variations of formations and lineups that Soncin may deploy to gain the upper hand against Belgium. A back three with wing-backs was generally preferred, given Italy's explosive talent in the wide areas. Yet, Lisa Boattin, who felt like a less favourable option given Soncin's experiments using players such as Agnese Bonfantini and Barbara Bonansea out wide, was named in the starting XI.
The rest of the line-up wasn't all that shocking, given Giada Greggi's lack of match fitness after returning from a shoulder injury, and Sofia Cantore and Cristiana Girelli's unmistaken prowess and partnership in front of goal throughout the domestic season.
As the match commenced, Boattin's positioning was clearly an issue that was being exploited by Belgium. At Juventus, Boattin has the freedom to roam when in possession, tending to tuck into the middle of the park to draw in the opposition and open up space in the wide areas for her teammates to move into, while also having quicker defensive teammates who can cover if she finds herself out of position.
With Italy, though, it's a different situation. When Boattin is out of position for her country, the responsibility moves to Elena Linari who, despite being a very strong defender, lacks the pace when one-on-one with a winger. Countless times against Belgium, Boattin found herself in almost a no.10 position. When the Belgium counter hit, the Swiss heat only further hindered Boattin's speed to return to her defensive postion.
Belgium spotted this gap before long and found some success on the left hand side. Lucia Di Guglielmo also struggled in the heat to return to her position occasionally, but tended to remain in a better position for a wing-back than Boattin.
The introduction of Elisabetta Oliviero essentially changed the game, coming on as a substitute who was full of energy and ready to play in her first major tournament for her country. Almost instantly, the balls that were taking longer to be crossed into the box were now accurate, precise and ten times quicker.
Talent to burn in midfield
The midfield conversation has been an interesting one over the last few months. Arianna Caruso’s move to Bayern Munich saw her struggle for minutes, while injuries sidelined Eva Schatzer, Giulia Dragoni and Giada Greggi at times. Although Greggi and Schatzer made Soncin’s final 23-player squad, the Roma no.20 began the match on the bench, but replaced Manuela Giugliano in the 54th minute. Initally, Emma Severini and Giugliano paired to form the double pivot, with Caruso playing in a slightly higher position.
After watching Severini play in an almost central attacking midfielder role against Sweden in the UEFA Nations League, a case should be made for that to become her permanent position. Against Belgium, that responsibility was given to Caruso, who is a fantastic attacking midfield option.
But Severini's talent is not limited to a single position and she was a nuisance not only in possession, but out of possession too. At just 21, and lack of tournament and international experience, it feels like her ceiling is so high. Her first touch, her ability to remain calm under pressure - it's clear she's quickly become an integral part of the Azzurre squad.
The introduction of Giada Greggi was perhaps a shock to some, after only recently returning to full training. Despite replacing Giugliano, Soncin changed the midfield dynamic entirely by pushing Caruso into the double pivot alongside Severini, which allowed Greggi to hound the ever-tiring Belgium backline. Her inclusion is positive for the Azzurre, and hopefully, as the tournament progresses, we will see her increasingly regularly.