The Italian Under 17 women`s national team is set to face Spain, France, and Poland in the group stage of the European Championship finals. This is undoubtedly a difficult draw for Selena Mazzantini`s squad. They will compete against the reigning champions (Spain), as well as the third (Poland) and fourth (France) placed teams from the last edition of the tournament.
On May 5th, the “Azzurrine” will begin their tournament against Poland (at 6 PM local time, Torsvollur Stadium) in the Faroe Islands. This Scandinavian archipelago is hosting the UEFA event finals for the first time, providing a unique and spectacular backdrop. Italy comes into the tournament confident as one of the top eight teams in Europe, having qualified for the final phase while only conceding two goals in six official matches.
Coach Selena Mazzantini commented on the draw, stating, “My staff and I prefer to focus on one game at a time, and considering our group, this approach is crucial. We need to concentrate on the first match and then approach the second game with composure.” Mazzantini was present at the official UEFA draw in Klaksvik. She added, “I see the positives in this draw. All three of our group matches will be played in the main stadium, which is a beautiful venue. Facing Poland as our first opponent could also be seen as an advantage. It`s true, these are three very strong teams, and two are genuine powerhouses in women`s football. But we are also strong. We must minimize errors and prepare meticulously for each game, which is something we are accustomed to doing. Reaching the final phase is already a success and makes us confident. Everything else from here is a bonus, and with our competitive spirit, we will fight until the very end.”
Historical Context. Italy has not reached the final phase of the Women`s Under 17 European Championship since 2018, and they haven`t scored a goal in the final tournament since 2016. In 2013, in their first of three appearances at this level, the team led by Sbardella, the current coordinator of the women`s youth national teams, achieved a historic third place in Europe, mirroring this result at the subsequent World Cup in Costa Rica.
World Cup Qualification. The upcoming World Cup in this category will be held in Morocco between October and November. This European Championship also serves as a qualifying tournament for the World Cup, with five European nations securing spots. The top two teams from each group in the European Championship will advance to the semi-finals and qualify for the World Cup. The third-placed teams from each group will play a play-off to determine the fifth and final European qualifier for the World Cup.
European Women`s Under-17 Championship – Final Phase
Group A: Faroe Islands, Netherlands, Austria, Norway
Group B: Spain, Italy, Poland, France
Group B Schedule
Tuesday, May 5th
3:00 PM (4:00 PM Italian time): Spain vs France (Djupumyru Stadium)
6:00 PM (7:00 PM Italian time): Poland vs Italy (Torsvollur Stadium)
Thursday, May 8th
3:00 PM (4:00 PM Italian time): Italy vs France (Torsvollur Stadium)
6:00 PM (7:00 PM Italian time): Spain vs Poland (Djupumyru Stadium)
Sunday, May 11th
3:00 PM (4:00 PM Italian time): Italy vs Spain (Torsvollur Stadium)
3:00 PM (4:00 PM Italian time): France vs Poland (Djupumyru Stadium)
Semi-finals: Wednesday, May 14th, 3:00 PM & 6:00 PM (Djupumyru Stadium & Torsvollur Stadium)
World Cup Qualification Play-off: Wednesday, May 14th, 12:00 PM (Torsvollur Stadium)
Final: Saturday, May 17th, 6:00 PM (Torsvollur Stadium)