Italy women’s national football team head coach Andrea Soncin has named a 28-player squad for the upcoming World Cup qualification playoffs against Belarus, with the opening leg scheduled for October 9 at the Petriashvili Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia. The Azzurre secured their playoff berth after finishing second behind Denmark in their qualifying group. Following the away fixture in Tbilisi, Italy will host Belarus for the return leg on October 13 at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence.
Squad Selection and Notable Recalls
The squad announcement features several key returns following lengthy absences. Juventus midfielder Martina Rosucci and Juventus forward Annamaria Serturini both rejoin the national team setup, with Serturini returning after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury that sidelined her for more than a year. Como Women goalkeeper Astrid Gilardi and Inter forward Elisa Polli also return to the squad. Squad preparations are set to begin with a training camp starting Sunday at Coverciano.
Complete Italy Playoff Squad
The 28 players selected by Soncin represent clubs across domestic and international leagues:
Goalkeepers: Rachele Baldi (Roma), Francesca Durante (Como 1907), Astrid Gilardi (Como Women), Laura Giuliani (Stuttgart)
Midfielders: Arianna Caruso (Real Madrid), Giulia Dragoni (Chelsea), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Giada Greggi (Roma), Eva Schatzer (Juventus), Annamaria Serturini (Juventus), and Emma Severini (Fiorentina).
Pathways to the 2027 World Cup
The two-legged playoff against Belarus represents the first hurdle in Italy’s quest to reach the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will take place in Brazil. Should Italy advance past Belarus, the team will face the winner of the playoff tie between Finland and Serbia in early December for a definitive spot in the tournament.
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