Italy head into sweden vs italy in Gothenburg on Tuesday at 19:00 CEST needing three points and help from Serbia to avoid the Women’s World Cup qualifying play-offs. A draw in Serbia would be enough for Denmark to clinch direct qualification, which leaves Italy chasing a narrow route back into contention.
Soncin’s three-point plan
Andrea Soncin has set the task clearly. “We started this training camp with one objective: to be the best version of ourselves, without being concerned with the results on other pitches,” he said before the match, then added that the chances of overtaking Denmark have decreased even if the motivation has not.
He also tied the target to more than qualification. “We want the three points for second place in the rankings, and to improve our seeding ahead of the next edition of the Nations League,” Soncin said. That leaves Italy playing for both the immediate table and a better position for the next cycle.
Gamla Ullevi pressure
Italy are still chasing their first away victory against Sweden, and Sweden remains the only Scandinavian side Soncin’s team has not beaten during his tenure. Around 14,000 spectators are expected at Gamla Ullevi Stadium, where the visitors will need a sharper rhythm than they showed in Pisa against Serbia.
Soncin said Sweden are “much more aggressive than Serbia” and said Italy will need quicker ball circulation, better movement into space and faster mental processing. That is the clearest operational difference in front of them: one match offered promise, but Tuesday demands cleaner decisions under pressure.
Bonansea’s response
Barbara Bonansea framed the match in even simpler terms. “We’re facing the only team that has beaten us in this group. We want to respond and focus ourselves, because these three points are still hugely important. We’re ready,” she said.
Bonansea also pointed to the group’s growing confidence, saying Italy now know they are “one of the teams capable of competing with anyone.” Her 33rd goal for the national team adds weight to a squad that must now turn that belief into points in Gothenburg.
The stakes are set: win in Sweden and Italy keep the door open to finish above the play-off line, but anything less leaves the final group match with Denmark’s result deciding whether the campaign extends into end-of-year play-offs. For Italy, Tuesday is not about looking for help after the final whistle; it is about getting the three points first.
