Italy produced a display of attacking desire and endeavour but it was not enough to open up Finland as the opening game of UEFA Women's EURO 2013 finished goalless at Örjans Vall.
Italy's reputation for being defensively stable – garnered from a qualifying campaign in which they did not conceded once – was in danger of being sorely tested after news broke earlier today of Elisabetta Tona's tournament-ending injury. The Azzurre's makeshift backline nonetheless held their nerve, while a stream of free-flowing combinations brought no reward at the other end.
Fuelled by patient and belief-imbued football, Italy made the initial inroads as Elisa Camporese's effort broke to Alice Parisi, who sliced wide at the second attempt. Melania Gabbiadini's surging run and shot then induced palpitations among the sizeable contingent of Finland supporters, yet goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela was equal to it.