England and Italy hoping for better

Two of the traditional powerhouses in international women's football get Group C under way in Lahti with England and Italy having both previously gone all the way to the final in this competition only to fall at the last.

• England reached the final of the very first UEFA Competition for National Representative Women Teams in 1984, where they met Sweden. After losing the away leg 1-0 in Gothenburg they won by the same score in Luton but were defeated 4-3 on penalties. They made further semi-finals in 1987 and in the 1995 UEFA European Women's Championship, losing to Sweden and Germany respectively.

• Despite reaching the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup quarter-finals, England did not qualify for the 1997 European finals and one of the World Cup squad, Hope Powell, was appointed as their first full-time women's coach. In 2001 she led them to the European finals, though they picked up only one point from their three matches thanks to a 1-1 draw with Russia in their first fixture. In 2005 England staged the final tournament though, after beating Finland 3-2 in their first game, a young team lost 2-1 to Denmark and 1-0 to Sweden and failed to progress from their group.

• England returned to the World Cup in 2007 and again made the last eight, going on to win Group 1 in qualifying for these finals. They went into their last game in Spain needing to avoid a two-goal defeat and although they trailed 2-0 at the break, goals from Karen Carney and Kelly Smith salvaged a draw.

• England's qualifying record was P8 W6 D2 L0 F24 A4 PTS20

• Italy have been among the last eight in every edition of this competition, with their best performances being runs to the 1993 and 1997 finals, though in 2001 and 2005 they departed in the group stage. They have twice qualified for the World Cup, reaching the 1991 quarter-finals and the group stage eight years later.

• Italy's qualifying Group 2 campaign began with a 2-0 home loss to Sweden and they were to lose 1-0 in Orebro but they won all other six fixtures to finish a comfortable second place. Their record read: P8 W6 D0 L2 F23 A7 PTS18

• As in 2005 they were drawn with the Czech Republic in the play-offs and Italy secured a repeat success. Patrizia Panico's 88th-minute goal secured a 1-0 away win and in the return in Gubbio, Tatiana Zorri's penalty was followed by another Panico strike before the break. Despite a Czech consolation, the Azzurre progressed 3-1 on aggregate.

• The Czech Republic finished third in England's group. England were held 0-0 in Blackburn but won 5-1 in Prague having trailed at the break.

• These teams have played 22 times with Italy recording eleven wins to England's six and five draws. Italy lead 38-27 on the goal count.

• Their first game was back on 2 June 1976, England winning 2-0 in Rome, and they also won the most recent encounter, 4-1 in Milton Keynes on 17 February 2005. Fara Williams, Jody Hanley, Amanda Barr and 17-year-old debutant Karen Carney, a substitute, were on target before Deiana Damiana's consolation.

• The teams were:
England: Jo Fletcher, Alex Scott, Faye White, Mary Phillip, Rachel Unitt, Jody Handley (Karen Carney), Fara Williams, Katie Chapman, Rachel Yankey (Sue Smith), Emily Westwood, Amanda Barr (Eniola Aluko).
Italy: Carla Brunozzi; Deiana Damiana, Elena Ficarelli, Viviana Schiavi, Tatiana Zorri; Elisa Camporese, Sara Di Filippo, Piera Maglio (Meliana Gabbiadini), Iliaria Pasqui, Patrizia Panico, Valentina Boni (Valentina Lanzieri).

• Italy and England have had five competitive encounters, all in the European event, and the Azzurre have four wins with the other game drawn. Italy beat England 2-1 in the 1987 third-place match and in the 1993 quarter-finals won 3-2 at home and 3-0 away.

• Italy reached the final of the latter competition and playing England proved a lucky omen as they repeated the feat in 1997 when the sides met in qualifying. England held Italy 1-1 at home but lost 2-1 in Cosenza, condemning them to a play-off and a defeat by Spain.