Italy had to win last night to be the master of their own destiny. And the 4-0 win over Finland at the end of a convincing performance was the best response to dispel doubts and fears and secure qualification for next year’s European Championship. A success that came thanks to two goals in each half with both the starters and the substitutes who gave their contribution to the cause, making the result of Norway-Netherlands irrelevant, even if the final 1-1 gave the Azzurre first place in the group.
The best on the field was Manuela Giuglianoauthor of a goal and an assist, with Beccari and Cambiaghi who scored as hoped by mister Soncin, while in the Finnish ranks only Sallstrom is saved, while all her teammates are shipwrecked.
The victory and the performance fully satisfy the coach Andrea Soncin (“Fantastic evening, just as we wanted it. We will play a great European Championship”) which after the excellent Nations League is repeated also in the complicated qualifying round receiving the compliments of that Gabriel Gravina who chose him in the aftermath of the disastrous expedition to Oceania for the World Cup.
After the qualifying group stage, nine teams have now qualified for the finals: Switzerland (host country), Spain, Germany, Iceland, Denmark, France, England, Italy and the Netherlands. The other seven will come from the play-offs between the third and fourth-placed teams in League A, the twelve best teams in League B, and the eight best teams in League C, for a total of 28 teams still in the running. The draw for the pairings will be held on Friday 19th at 13:00.