World ranking

10

UEFA Champs Records

Runners-up 1993, 1997; Semi-finalists 1987, 1989, 1991; Quarter-finalists 1995

Euro 2005 qualification

Via play-off after finishing Group 1 runners-up

Colours

Blue shirts, white shorts, blue socks 

Coach

Carolina Morace

Key players

Patrizia Panico (striker), Tatiana Zorri (midfielder), Elisa Camporese (midfielder)

Website 

www.figc.it


While the Azzurre have always reached at least the last eight, they have never lifted the Euro crown despite twice reaching the final. They agonisingly finished runners-up on home soil in 1993, when they lost the final 1-0 to Norway in Cesena, then four years later they went down 2-0 to Germany in Oslo.

At Euro 2001 the Italians, like England, were in the last eight but failed to make the semi-finals. The two nations did not clash as they were in separate groups, but over the history of the England women’s team the Azzurre have been their most regular opponents with 20 meetings – the last five of which have been won by Italy.

The qualifying stages for Euro 2005 brought a mixed bag of results for Carolina Morace’s team, but after being disappointingly held to a goalless draw by Switzerland they clinched a play-off place in their penultimate group match with an excellent 2-1 win against Sweden.

Patrizia ‘The Scorpion’ Panico, who had already hit goals which earned her team one victory and two draws in previous group fixtures, crucially claimed the winner against the Swedes. With that knack of scoring vital goals, the 29 year-old striker will surely be the Azzurre’s most dangerous weapon at the Championship.

Not that they are short of talent in other areas, from vastly experienced 34 year-old defender Moira Placchi to precociously talented 20 year-old midfielder Elisa Camporese, whose late goal in the second leg of the play-off final against the Czech Republic completed a 5-1 aggregate victory that sealed Italy’s Euro 2005 place.