Juventus star Girelli among key figures, while 16-year-old Dragoni makes the cut.
- Italy name 23-player FIFA Women’s World Cup squad
- Sixteen-year-old Barcelona midfielder Giulia Dragoni selected
- Le Azzurre drawn in group with Argentina, South Africa and Sweden
Italy coach Milena Bertolini has named her 23-player squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™.
No less than 17 squad members come from Juventus (9) and newly crowned Italian champions Roma (8).
Barcelona’s 16-year-old midfielder Giulia Dragoni has made the cut, having made her senior debut in a 0-0 friendly draw against Morocco on Saturday. Fiorentina’s Emma Severini, 19, also won her first cap in that game and will be on the plane Down Under.
Legendary striker Cristiana Girelli, accomplished defender Lisa Boattin and midfield ace Manuela Giugliano are among coach Bertolini’s key players.
Italy have been drawn in Group G along with Argentina, South Africa and Sweden. Their opening game is against Argentina in Auckland on 24 July.
Italy’s Group G fixtures:
24 July
(18:00 local time)
Eden Park, Auckland/Tamaki Makaurau
29 July
(19:30 local time)
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara)
2 August:
(19:00 local time)
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara)
Italy’s FIFA Women’s World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers:
Rachele Baldi (Fiorentina) Francesca Durante (Inter) Laura Giuliani (Milan)
Defenders:
Elisa Bartoli (Roma) Lisa Boattin (Juventus) Lucia Di Guglielmo (Roma) Martina Lenzini (Juventus) Elena Linari (Roma) Benedetta Orsi (Sassuolo) Cecilia Salvai (Juventus)
Midfielders:
Arianna Caruso (Juventus) Valentina Cernoia (Juventus) Giulia Dragoni (Barcellona) Manuela Giugliano (Roma) Giada Greggi (Roma) Emma Severini (Fiorentina)
Forwards:
Chiara Beccari (Juventus) Barbara Bonansea (Juventus) Sofia Cantore (Juventus) Valentina Giacinti (Roma) Cristiana Girelli (Juventus) Benedetta Glionna (Roma) Annamaria Serturini (Roma)
Sassuolo defender Maria Luisa Filangeri and Inter full-back Beatrice Merlo will also join the group for their preparation period ahead of the tournaments. They can be added to the squad in the event of drop-outs due to illness or injury.
All squads are provisional until the final list of 23 players is announced by FIFA, following their submission by participating teams, on 11 July.
Source: FIFA.com
