Italy are caught in a weird paradox ahead of Euro 2025, which gets under way in Switzerland on Wednesday.

Common wisdom suggests Le Azzurre look like classic dark horses and yet such is the quality of their opponents in Group B that reaching the knockout stage is far from guaranteed.

It is six years since Italy reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup after finishing ahead of Australia in their group. It was supposed to be the start of an exciting new era, instead it proved to be anything but.

Thrashed 5-1 by France in their opening fixture, Italy finished bottom of their group at Euro 2022 with just one point.

There was more disappointment a year later when they missed out on a place in the round of 16 of the World Cup after conceding a 92nd-minute goal against South Africa.

But under Andrea Soncin there is renewed hope Italy can make their mark at a major tournament for the first time since they finished runners-up in 1997.

Le Azzurre may have won just two of their six qualifying games, but that was still enough to finish top of Group A1 ahead of former European champions the Netherlands and Norway.

Italy beat the Netherlands 2-0 at home and thrashed Finland 4-0, and earned creditable draws away against the Oranje and Norway, keeping a clean sheet on both occasions.

Italy also finished second in their Nations League group, two points behind Sweden, but ended the campaign strongly with a 3-0 win away at Denmark followed by a 4-1 victory in Swansea over Wales.

At No 13 in FIFA’s rankings, Italy certainly arrive in Switzerland with a spring in their step. The lack of consistency, however, is a major concern as they have not won two games on the bounce since December 2023.

Women’s football in Italy turned professional in the 2022-23 season and has been on a steady upward trend since, with an increase in TV viewership coming along with the likes of Juventus and AC Milan staging games at the Allianz Stadium and the San Siro.

But Italy remains some way behind the leading countries in Europe in terms of attendances and interest. Could a successful Euro 2025 be the catalyst the game needs?

Who is Italy’s manager?

Andrea Soncin was a puzzling choice to replace Milena Bertolini after the 2023 World Cup. 

Up until then, the 46-year-old’s only experience of managing at senior level consisted of two caretaker spells in charge of Venezia, which returned one win and three defeats in six games.

But Soncin swiftly silenced the doubters, beginning his era with a 3-2 win over Spain in the Nations League two years ago.

His tenure so far has been one of evolution rather than revolution, with a large degree of tactical flexibility.

Soncin’s preferred 3-5-2 often makes room for a more attacking 3-4-3 or 4-3-3 when required. 

Who are Italy’s best players?

Cristiana Girelli may be 35 but she remains Italy’s most potent attacking weapon and one of the best strikers in the game.

The Juventus veteran has scored a record 58 goals in 120 international caps and will again shoulder the attacking burden in Switzerland.

If Girelli is a known quantity, her attacking partner, Sofia Cantore, could well announce herself to a broader audience at Euro 2025.

The 25-year-old has five goals to her name in 41 appearances but was the national team’s top scorer last year and has everything in her locker to trouble defences.

Lightning quick and ruthless in front of goal, Cantore’s meteoric rise was enough to convince NSWL club Washington Spirit to sign her from Juventus.

Elsewhere, Giulia Dragoni’s absence through injury deprived Soncin of a key player but Italy’s engine room remains packed with talent.

Arianna Caruso’s all-round qualities are the perfect foil for Manuela Giugliano’s creativity and Emma Severini’s youthful exuberance.

At the back, Elena Linari remains Italy’s defensive bedrock while AC Milan goalkeeper Laura Giugliani is a solid presence between the posts. 

Who is in Italy’s group?

Italy find themselves in Group B alongside Spain, Portugal and Belgium.

World champions Spain need little introduction. The pre-tournament favourites sailed through their qualifying campaign with five wins and one defeat.

In her first major tournament as manager, Montse Tome can choose from an array of world-class players in Ballon d’Or winners Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati, who returned to the squad after being treated for viral meningitis, and a host of young stars including Salma Paralluelo and Vicky Lopez.

Belgium, who Italy face in their opener in Sion on Thursday, won just one of their qualifying matches and were thrashed 7-0 at home by Spain.

After finishing third in Group A2, they qualified for the tournament after beating Greece and Ukraine in the play-offs.

Like Italy, the Red Flames came to life in the latter stages of the Nations League, beating England and hammering Portugal 3-0. 

Le Azzurre’s next opponents in Geneva on July 7, Portugal have never made it past the group stage at the Euros but won five of their six qualifiers en route to Switzerland.

An encouraging 1-1 draw against England in the Nations League in February was followed by a 1-0 win away in Belgium, before the wheels came off in spectacular fashion as Portugal lost 7-1 to Spain and 6-0 to the Lionesses.