One hundred appearances in blue, one hundred appearances for Manuela. Giugliano reached a century of caps on 14 April in the first leg against Serbia, when she joined the exclusive group of players to reach this prestigious milestone with the Italy national team – is celebrated through an interview in which the midfielder reflects on her long journey in the Azzurre shirt, a journey that began with a goal in 2015, the first of eleven she would go on to score. “I would describe it as a journey filled with smiles, enjoyment and genuine passion,” the 28-year-old midfielder from Castelfranco Veneto told Vivo Azzurro TV. The small town in the province of Treviso marked the beginning of a personal and footballing story shaped by talent, ambition and success.

“One hundred appearances mean so much for my development. I think back to all the moments I've experienced, the good ones and the difficult ones too, which ultimately led me to achieve a goal every little girl dreams of reaching.” A special milestone, celebrated during the training camp in Tirrenia and achieved at the end of a season that has further enhanced the reputation of the first Italian player to win the Ballon d'Or (an honour she received in 2024). The Roma captain and number 10, who was recently named Serie A's Best Player, comes into the international break after winning her third Scudetto title and third Coppa Italia. These achievements add further highlights to a career album that began at senior international level eleven years ago in La Spezia against Georgia. “I remember the emotion of when coach Cabrini told me, ‘Come with us, you have incredible qualities,’ while I didn't yet have that belief in myself. I would describe that debut as perfect, and I wouldn't change a thing about it. I experienced it with freedom, carefreeness and also a little bit of madness and fear. The one match I would like to play again is the EURO 2025 semi-final, because it still stays with me a little…”

The disappointment of the extra-time defeat to England quickly gives way to pride in Italy's remarkable run in Switzerland. “We came within one step of the final, and I never thought that would be possible. That result, together with the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, represents the highest point of my journey with Italy. We came through several difficult moments and were able to turn them into opportunities, coming back stronger and with greater belief in our abilities.” Over the years, Giugliano's personal journey has taken on new colours and dimensions, with the shy girl from her early days: “in my first youth-team gatherings I found it difficult to leave home and even to eat away from home”. Now, she has transformed into a role model for young girls. “As a child, I followed Panico and Gabbiadini, and my father used to tell me about Morace's achievements. I saw their joy and professionalism, qualities I wanted to make my own. Today, whenever I step onto the pitch, I always think about the people watching us. My first objective is to entertain them.” When the conversation turns to the future and her ambitions, her voice changes, and Manu's eyes light up even more. “I would love to win a trophy with the national team. But first, we need to secure qualification and book our place in Brazil. We'll give everything we have.”

CANTORE TARGETING SERBIA: “THE PISA CROWD WILL DRIVE US ON”

From Leskovac, where Giugliano earned her 100th cap a month and a half ago, attention now turns to Italy's next meeting with Serbia, scheduled for Friday (18:15 CEST) at the Arena Garibaldi in Pisa. A match Italy need to win in order to head into the final fixture in Sweden with confidence and keep their hopes of FIFA Women's World Cup qualification alive. “We know we have two finals ahead of us, but the feeling in the camp is very positive. There's a great energy around the group, and we are fully focused on our objective,” Sofia Cantore told Vivo Azzurro TV from Italy's training base in Tirrenia. The Washington Spirit forward, who plays alongside Pisa-born Lucia Di Guglielmo at club level, cannot wait to take to the pitch and has called on supporters to fill the stands: “We need your enthusiasm and your support. We'll give everything we have, and we'll do it for you as well. Come in large numbers because this is an incredibly important match.”