“The aim is that this World Cup will be a starting point that can be built on in the coming years.” This is what the President of the Senate Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati said during a meeting with the Italy Woman’s National team, a day before they travel to France to compete at the World Cup.

The delegation of the Azzurre team included the Federal President, the General Director Marco Brunelli, the Vice President of  Lega Pro Cristiana Capotondi, the Italy coach Milena Bertolini and the players. “This meeting is really important for us. However, the most important thing is that the team will be able to partake in this tournament again after 20 years out of it,” said Maria Elisabetta lberti Casellati.

“Now our players must play with honour and make the fans proud, especially after the men’s national team were unable to qualify for the World Cup last Summer. For too long time, this sport has been considered a privilege only for men but today we are overcoming this,” concluded Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati.Italy coach Milena Bertolini added: “FIGC have been able to make the change possible thanks to some important reforms. What the team did last year has been amazing and it is good that we are back in the competition. We can’t promise anything but we will give our best. We have the dream to go so far as possible and we know we have to think step by step, game by game”.The team had a training session in the afternoon today. The Azzurre will travel tomorrow to France. The first game will be on June 9th against Australia (kick-off 13:00 CEST) in Valenciennes.  The second opponents will be Jamaica on Friday 18th at 18:00 CEST in Reims. Italy will face Brazil on 18th June at 21:00 CEST, again in Valenciennes for the last group stage match. The best three nations will qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Laura Giuliani (Juventus), Chiara Marchitelli (Florentia), Rosalia Pipitone (AS Roma);
Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (AS Roma), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Laura Fusetti (Milan), Sara Gama (Juventus), Alia Guagni (Fiorentina Women’s), Elena Linari (Atletico Madrid), Linda Tucceri Cimini (Milan);
Midfielders: Valentina Bergamaschi (Milan), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus), Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Milan), Alice Parisi (Fiorentina Women’s), Martina Rosucci (Juventus), Annamaria Serturini (AS Roma);
Forwards: Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina Women’s), Daniela Sabatino (Milan), Stefania Tarenzi (Chievo Verona).

National Team schedule (all times CEST)

Saturday 1 June
11:30 – Meeting with the President of the Senate
Team will then travel to the Mancini Park Hotel in Rome
17:30 - Training (first 15 minutes open to public)

Sunday 2 June
10:00 - Training (behind closed doors)
15:15 - Flight from Rome to Brussels
17:30 - Bus to ValenciennesMonday

Monday 3 June
16:30/17:00 – Training at Valenciennes FC’s Sports Centre (behind closed doors)

Tuesday 4 June
10:00 – Training (behind closed doors)
16:30/17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

Wednesday 5 June
11:00 – Public training session at the Stadio Christophe Laurent in Valenciennes
14:00 – Lunch followed by a press conference with a player at the Hotel.

Thursday 6 June
10:00 – Training at the Stadio Christophe Laurent in Valenciennes (first 15 minutes open to public)
Press commitments to follow

12:30 – LunchFriday 7 June
11:00 – Training at the Stadio Christophe Laurent in Valenciennes (behind closed doors)
14:00 – Lunch followed by a press conference with a player at the Hotel.

Saturday 8 June
11:00 CEST – Training at the Stadio Christophe Laurent in Valenciennes (first 15 minutes open to public)
13:30 – Press conference at the Stadio du Hainaut (Head Coach and a player)
14:00 - Walk aroundSunday

Sunday 9 June
13:00 – Australia vs. Italy (Stadio du Hainaut)
Followed by press conferenceMonday

Monday 10 June
10:00 – Training at the Stadio Christophe Laurent in Valenciennes (first 15 minutes open to public)
Followed by press commitments
12:30 – Lunch
14:00 – Departure for Reims from Valenciennes
16:15 – Arrival in ReimsTuesday

Tuesday 11 June
13:00 – Lunch
Followed by a press conference with a player at the Hotel
18:00 – Training at the Stadio Jean Bucton (first 15 minutes open to public)Wednesday

Wednesday 12 June
13:00 – Lunch
Followed by a press conference with a player at the Hotel
18:00 – Training at the Stadio Jean Bucton (behind closed doors)

Thursday 13 June
11:00 – Training at the Stadio Jean Bucton (first 15 minutes open to public)
18:30 – Press conference at the Stadio Auguste Delaune (Head Coach and a player)
19:00 - Walk aroundFriday

Friday 14 June
18:00 – Jamaica vs. Italy (Stadio Auguste Delaune)
Followed by press conferenceSaturday

Saturday 15 June
10:00 – Training (first 15 minutes open to public)
Followed by press commitments
12:30 – Lunch
14:00 – Bus for Lille
16:45 – Arrival in LilleSunday

Sunday 16 June
12:30 – Lunch
Followed by a press conference with a player at the Hotel
18:00 – Training at Le Stadium in Villeneuve d’Ascq (behind closed doors)

Monday 17 June
17:00 – Press conference at the Stadio du Hainaut (Head Coach and a player)
19:00 – Training at Le Stadium in Villeneuve d’Ascq (first 15 minutes open to public)

Tuesday 18 June
21:00 – Italy vs. Brasile (Stadio du Hainaut)
Followed by press conferenceN.B. The schedule could be subject to changes