The United States Women’s National Team made the most of a transitional year free of major tournaments or their respective qualifying competitions, bringing several new players into the fold and building chemistry. However, there are still two items left on the calendar to cap off 2025, with Emma Hayes leading her group into a pair of friendlies against Italy. The European program is slowly growing into a bigger player and seeking to take the next step after reaching two consecutive World Cups and impressing
over the summer. Orlando, Florida’s Inter&Co Stadium – a 25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium with a Latitude 36® Bermudagrass surface – hosts the first match; the second fixture is set for Chase Stadium, a 21,550-seat venue with Latitude 36® Bermudagrass, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
These are the 16th and 17th all-time meetings between the two teams, with the USWNT holding a 10-4-1 advantage and claiming the most recent meetings, an aggregate victory in a 2011 World Cup qualification playoff (2-0 [1-0, 1-0]). Ranked 12th internationally by FIFA, Italy narrowly missed out on a spot in the UEFA Nations League Finals but went on an inspiring semifinal run at Euro 2025, taking down Norway (2-1) in the quarterfinal before falling to eventual champions England in extra time (2-1). Recent friendlies ended in a draw with Japan (1-1) and a defeat to Brazil (0-1).
Andrea Soncin was announced as the manager in September 2023, replacing Milena Bertolini after the failure to advance from the group at the 2023 World Cup. The 47-year-old former striker from Vigevano previously worked with the Venezia academy and twice led the club’s senior squad in an interim role. He has received praise for possessing “an extremely important human value” and “adapting in a really special way, with a humility that is hard to find in an [unfamiliar] environment.”
Soncin named a 28-player roster for the pair of friendlies. The domestic Serie A is home to 24 of the call-ups, while two figures feature in other European competitions and two talents are on the books at National Women’s Soccer League clubs. Notable absences include Emma Severini and Barbara Bonansea.
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GOALKEEPERS (3): Rachele Baldi (Roma), Francesca Durante (Lazio), Laura Giuliani (Milan)
DEFENDERS (10): Valentina Bergamaschi (Roma), Lisa Boattin (Houston Dash), Federica D’Auria (Lazio), Lucia Di Guglielmo (Roma), Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elena Linari (London City Lionesses), Beatrice Merlo (Inter), Elisabetta Oliviero (Lazio), Julie Piga (Milan), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Arianna Caruso (Bayern Munich), Giulia Dragoni (Roma), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Eleonora Goldoni (Lazio), Giada Greggi (Roma), Nadine Nischler (Como), Matilde Pavan (Como), Eva Schatzer (Juventus)
FORWARDS (7): Chiara Beccari (Juventus), Agnese Bonfantini (Fiorentina), Michela Cambiaghi (Juventus), Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit), Alice Corelli (Roma), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Martina Piemonte (Lazio)
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While tactically flexible, Soncin relies upon a “very well structured” 3-5-2 formation “with great compactness” and places a priority on winning back the ball quickly by maintaining “relationship distances” between the lines. Italy is a “gritty” side employing a “direct style” that “finds that vertical outlet with a long ball,” with “wing-backs pushed high to support attacking play.” The “collective defensive approach” can be exploited by overloads on the wings, as England took full advantage of the empty space during the Euros.
Laura Giuliani passed 100 caps for Italy over the summer and should continue to add to that number as the unchallenged starter with “experience and leadership.” The 32-year-old AC Milan goalkeeper takes an active role in the build-up with a high level of accuracy on long-range passes and is willing to venture far off her line to snag crosses or contest the opponent. At five feet, nine inches tall, she has enough size to comfortably cover the frame with minimal effort, displaying a more deliberate style when stretching and getting to ground for saves. Her footwork and pace are excellent, while most of her stops are of a safer and unspectacular variety, rarely forcing a catch and fulfilling the baseline responsibility of keeping the ball out of the net.
Cecilia Salvai is “strong and reliable,” with a “combination of physical strength, game reading, and natural leadership” that enables her to claim headers and rack up interceptions and clearances. The 31-year-old Juventus centre-back put in a big performance at the Euros and will contribute the occasional goal, having displayed “great natural talent and intelligence” while also overcoming a series of “serious injuries.” Martina Lenzini has the versatility to deploy on the inside and the outside of the line, possessing a desire to advance play and the speed to chase down opposing attackers who are breaking on goal. She is a “big presence for the Le Azzurre (The Blues)” and has been a favorite of the manager due to her “physicality, great reading of the game, and knack for timely interventions.” London City Lionesses’ Elena Linari was named to the Team of the Tournament at the Euros due to shutting down advancements, taking a leading role in the build-up, and “combining old school values with intelligence.” The “modern” defender is “good in the air and strong in the tackle” with a keen “read of the game,” exhibiting physical dominance and the occasional breakdown of the box from a deeper area. Julie Piga of AC Milan brings “a real technical class in possession,” playing out of the back with a high level of accuracy and number of attempts while also registering appealing statistics against the ball. The former France youth international tends to play the long game and is very comfortable making solo carries in order to advance up the field, with the technique to hit the occasional cross into the box.
A relatively recent addition to the program, Elisabetta Oliviero announced her arrival with the opener in the 3-1 loss to Spain at the Euros, sliding forward and pouncing on a loose ball in the box. “Tenacious and focused,” the 28-year-old Lazio fullback is active in the tackle and constantly looks to make progress up the wing with solo runs, showing a fearless and rugged nature. Roma’s Lucia Di Guglielmo is another front-foot attacker who takes the game to the opponent with constant attempts off the dribble, thriving as a two-way talent with “lightning speed.” She can drift wide into the corners and provide service or dart toward the center of the area in order to latch onto the end of a cross at the back post, all while tracking back for necessary interventions. Lisa Boattin of the Houston Dash has picked up a few recent starts, receiving passes “in inside channels” and serving as a facilitator or creator with “technical ability.” The “set-piece specialist” has a “brilliant left-footed delivery” with the occasional finish directly from the corner, pairing with her active nature and quick reactions during the run of play.
The “dominant” Arianna Caruso registered a “stunner” against Belgium at the Euros, with her complete skill set including scoring, ball recoveries, tackles, and transitions from one phase to the next. The “versatile” 26-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder can operate in a creative role and finish in a variety of ways, from drilling long-range shots to running behind the opponent’s lines or claiming crosses. Manuela Giugliano of Roma is a technical maven with supreme field vision and a willingness to attempt the most audacious of passes and finishes at all distances, dictating the game from deep. The Athletic notes her ability to operate as a trequartista or a regista, exercising “remarkable control” of proceedings and being “particularly skilled at shaping as if to play square balls” before unleashing long distribution. The diminutive Giada Greggi does her best work in the attacking zones and always looks to advance with a high number of forward passes and progressive carries, relying on “impeccable balance, agility, and vision.” A constant source of headaches to the opponents, she possesses a lethal left foot and prowls around the top of the box, waiting for her moment to find a teammate or unleash an accurate shot. Juventus’ Eva Schatzer is considered one of the top players of the next generation, claiming the Italian Golden Girl and boasting a “calm authority and impressive technique” belying her youth. With an “innate tactical sense,” coaches describe an ability to “give geometries and order” with a “presence you can feel,” making a defensive impact and playing “complicated balls” with “the vision of a veteran.”
As Cristiana Girelli goes, so goes Italy, with her star turns on the biggest stages and constant production steering the program to greater and greater heights. The 35-year-old Juventus striker unlocks space in the box with the perfect path onto the end of crosses, can grind out ugly poaching opportunities, and has just enough quickness to get behind the opponent’s lines. The first Italian in NWSL history, Sofia Cantore opened her Washington Spirit tenure with four goals in 15 appearances, displaying her “varied skillset” that includes creative and finishing duties. She is smart and composed in the final third with a willingness to drift to the wings in order to facilitate but is at her best when driving at defenders and letting loose a variety of perfectly placed attempts. Seemingly the heir apparent to lead the squad, Lazio’s Martina Piemonte went on a tear last season in Serie A, constantly advancing with her dribbling and claiming a bevy of headers. With a physical style and the athleticism to match, Total Football Analysis highlights her “passing skills, vision, and continuous backwards movements” as well as the ability to “escape from marking.”
The USWNT is closing out what should be considered a successful year, having added several new faces and geared up for the upcoming qualifying run. Italy provides a final test in 2025, riding a high after impressing with a strong performance at the European Championship. The hosts have a clear talent advantage, but experimentation over two friendlies could lead to surprising results.
The first match is scheduled for Friday, November 28th at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 p.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TNT, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock, and FuboTV (free trial).
The second match is scheduled for Monday, December 1st at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 p.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TNT, HBO Max, Peacock, and FuboTV (free trial).
