The flashes echo around the vast lobby of the team hotel in Lodz. It is media day at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, and one by one the Azzurrine step in front of the white backdrop to capture a lasting memory of this experience, hoping it will continue for as long as possible.

Just as on the pitch, the initial nerves gradually give way to creativity and spontaneity, with the photos coming thick and fast. In the end, it is the photographer who has to call time on the session...

It is an afternoon of poses and laughter before the players turn their focus back to the pitch for training, their second session since arriving in Lodz yesterday for their World Cup campaign. “We’re ready, we’re fired up and we can’t wait to get started in the tournament,” Martina Cocino told FIFA. A defender by trade, she was firmly on the front foot with her words. “We earned our qualification and Sunday’s match against the United States will be a test of the highest level. We’ll give it everything and we have nothing to fear from them. Wearing the Italy shirt? It’s an honour and an incredible feeling; it’s every little girl’s dream. And playing at a World Cup is... unique. Our objective? We hope to go as far as possible in the competition.”


World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Elena Belli (Inter), Erica Di Nallo (Vicenza), Lavinia Tornaghi (Milan);
Defenders: Martina Bressan (Inter), Martina Cocino (Aarau), Lidia Consolini (Inter), Azzurra Gallo (Tolosa), Emma Lombardi (Fiorentina), Martina Tosello (Cesena), Caterina Venturelli (Sassuolo);
Midfielders: Giada Catena (Res Donna Roma), Maya Cherubini (Fiorentina), Paola Fadda (Sassuolo), Gabriella Langella (Napoli Women), Sofia Testa (Ternana Women), Marta Zamboni (Como Women);
Forwards: Karen Appiah (Cesena), Giulia Galli (Roma), Giada Pellegrino Cimò (Roma), Manuela Sciabica (Lazio), Rosanna Ventriglia (Ternana Women).

Staff – Head Coach: Nicola Matteucci; Methodology Coach: Fabio Andolfo; Assistant Coach: Erika Lisi; Goalkeeping Coach: Mattia Volpi; Fitness Coaches: Lorenzo Corsi and Vincenzo Piermatteo; Doctors: Michela Cammarano and Andrea Gattelli; Physiotherapists: Marco Fiore and Eugenio Zarcone; Nutritionist: Vito Flavio Valletta; Team Secretary: Aurora Leo.

 

The Azzurrine’s fixtures

Sunday 6 September, 18:00 CEST: United States vs. Italy (Lodz, Stadion Miejski)
Wednesday 9 September, 15:00 CEST: Italy vs. New Zealand (Lodz, Stadion Miejski)
Saturday 12 September, 15:00 CEST: Italy vs. Japan (Lodz, Stadion Miejski)

 

World Cup groups

Group A: Poland, Argentina, Mexico, Benin
Group B: Brazil, Tanzania, Canada, England
Group C: France, South Korea, Ecuador, Ghana
Group D: Japan, New Zealand, United States, ITALY
Group E: North Korea, Portugal, Costa Rica, Colombia
Group F: Spain, Nigeria, New Caledonia, China