France starts their Euro 2022 journey with a challenging fixture against Italy in Group D. Les Bleues will be wishing to add their first major international honour to their name. In contrast, Le Azzurre wants to make a big mark in the competition with football in the nation turning professional.
Both sides want to gain the maximum out of this crucial meeting before taking on Portugal and Switzerland, the other opponents in the group. A poor start for either of them could hamper progress even though they are the favourites to advance to the quarterfinals.
FRA vs ITA Match Details
Date: Sunday, 10th July 2022/ Monday, 11th July 2022
Time: 20:00 (BST)/ 00:30 (IST)
Venue: NY Stadium, Rotherham
FRA vs ITA Match Preview
A tournament without controversial selection seems unthinkable for France and their head coach Corinne Diacre. The former Clermont Foot manager, the first woman to coach a men’s professional team, decided to leave out two crucial figures in six times Champions League-winning midfielder Amandine Henry and France’s record goal-scorer Eugenie Le Sommer from the Euro squad. Although star striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto can replace the former with her lethal finishes, it is left to see who steps in the middle of the park. France could have used their experience to quench the thirst for trophies. Another key decision but this time a positive one was Wendie Renard getting back her captaincy armband for the tournament. If the team is able to move away from the controversies and past disappointments in the tournament, they could put together a decent run in England. France are currently ranked third in the FIFA rankings without tasting defeat for almost a year since their 2-0 defeat to USA in 2021. Les Bleues have won every game since, including wins over Brazil and Netherlands. With such a positive outlook ahead of the Euros, the team is desperate to go beyond the quarter final stage where they have stuck in the last three editions.
Italy are here not to play supporting cast anymore by propelling themselves to something meaningful in this Euros. Le Azzurre have twice been runners-up in the contest before the turn of the century and wants to better it. Slowly but steadily women’s football in the nation in Southern Europe is growing with Serie A Femminile becoming a professional league next season. The Italians were first to grace the women’s part of the sport than most other nations playing in the tournament yet the progress has been late. The current squad wishes to catalyst their rise on the international stage. A tented squad is at the disposal for Italy this time with most of their players doing exceptionally well with their clubs, especially league winners Juventus. Captain Sara Gama and forward Barbara Bonansea oversaw a historic win over eventual winners Lyon in the Champions League citing more examples of their mentality in the contest. Starting their Euro campaign against France is not ideal but Italy’s coach Milena Bertolini believes their unity will be the key. Italy have failed to go beyond the quarterfinal stage in the previous five editions so this could be their chance to do something special.
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FRA: WWWWW
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FRA vs ITA Team News
The French players will not take any risks in the last training session before the game to avoid any unwanted injuries. Coach Corinne Diacre said everyone is doing well in physical and mental aspects. France’s reliance will be on the feared front three with the top scorer in the French league, Marie-Antoinette Katoto aiming for her first Euros after being dropped in 2017.
Italy’s coach Milena Bertolini said she will think about a likeable replacement for midfielder Valentina Cernoia as the Juventus player is out of the squad for France. The Italian FA declared her absence beforehand. There are no other injury troubles for Italy.
Expected Lineups
FRA: Peyraud-Magnin; Marion Torrent, Griedge Mbock, Wendie Renard, Selma Bacha; Kenza Dali, Charlotte Bilbault, Clara Mateo; Kadidiatou Diani, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Delphine Cascarino
ITA: Laura Giuliani; Lucia Di Guglielmo, Sara Gama, Elena Linari, Lisa Boattin; Arianna Caruso, Manuele Giugliano, Aurora Galli; Valentinna Bergamaschi, Cristiana Girelli, Barbara Bonansea
FRA vs ITA Head to Head
France have come out on top every time they faced Italy so far. Italy have only managed two draws in the four meetings so far with the latest ending in 1-1 in 2018. This will be their second game in the European Championship finals with the last one coming in 2005.
FRA vs ITA Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Peyraud-Magnin (8.5)
DEF: Boattin (8.5), Gama (9), Renard (9), Bacha (8)
MID: Dali (9), Giugliano (8.5), Bilbault (8.5), Bonansea (9.5)
FW: Diani (9), Katoto (10)
Captain: Marie-Antoinette Katoto
Vice-Captain: Sara Gama
Italy’s Sara Gama played a pivotal role in collecting the second consecutive Serie A Femminile title with Juventus.
Boattin also partnered with her well scoring six goals and two assists in the UEFA Women’s Champions league
Probably the most decorated footballer in club football, France’s Wendie Renard won her eighth Champions League title
Giugliano and Bonansea played key roles in both their club and nation with the former having experience in the Euros
Katoto scored 18 goals in the league as the competition top scorer and three in the Champions League for PSG while netting seven for France in the Euro qualifiers
Her club and national teammate Diani scored 13 league goals at the club level
