The Women's national team, currently in Riscone preparing for their two decisive matches in the EURO 2025 qualifying stages against the Netherlands and Finland, had a surprise this afternoon. The Azzurre thought they had been called for a technical meeting, but instead they found themselves at the Odeon cinema in Brunico for a moment of symbolic sharing: viewing COPA 71, the documentary by Rachel Ramsay and James Erskine, produced by tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams and distributed by Fandango.

COPA 71 is 'The greatest sporting story you've never heard of', and recalls what happened at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City in August 1971: the women's national teams of England, Argentina, Mexico, France, Denmark and Italy took part in a competition of gigantic magnitude. Sponsorships, extensive television coverage, gadgets on sale in every corner of the stadium and over 100 thousand spectators transformed a football tournament into a global event, one, however, that was never recognised by any international federation and by the history of football, but which took place. And women from Italya also played in it, pioneers of Italian women's football, including Daniela Sogliani, who came to Brunico to see the documentary together with the girls from the national team and the staff, led by coach Andrea Soncin, and who then spoke about her memories of what happened 53 years ago on the other side of the world.

“More than an educational moment, I hope that for the girls and the staff it was an emotional moment as it was for me when I saw COPA 71,"said Sogliani, who was the goalkeeper of that team. "Watching it, I was very moved, also because I have lost contact with many teammates and opponents. Then, I asked myself how the idea of ​​creating a a similar product could have come about, after over 50 years. When I was contacted about coming to view the film with today's national team I felt truly honoured: I don't expect fame or notoriety, but it's nice that value was given to what was a life experience even before a football one, the importance of which we are only now realising. I am happy that these girls have acquired the status of professionals: they must look to the future and to the new generations, aware that they will be what we were in the past. And my niece, who among other things filmed me the video of one of my parades in that COPA 71, lives in Mexico City...". She is far from Riscone, but today a little closer.

Those part of the Italy Women's National Team at COPA 71: Claudia Avon, Paola Cardia, Maria Castelli, Maurizia Ciceri, Rosetta Cunzolo, Manola Conter, Maria Fabris, Aurora Giubertoni, Derna Isolini, Silvana Mammina, Manuela Pinardi, Elena Schiavo (captain), Wilma Seghetti, Daniela Sogliani, Anna Stopar, Carmela Varone, Betty Vignotto, Giuseppe Cavicchi (coach).