It is the first day of the training camp for the Italy Women, ahead of the friendly against Colombia on Tuesday, April 11th (4:30 pm, live on figc.it, on the Figc YouTube channel and on the Facebook and Twitter pages of the National team) scheduled at the Tre Fontane stadium in Rome. Before returning to play in the capital - after a 20 tear absence - the Azzurre will train for a week at the Coverciano headquarters, where Milena Bertolini and her staff will be able to intensify tactical work with the thirty players at their disposal.

The camp that will precede the start of the World Cup adventure began with statements from the coach and Sara Gama on the partnership agreement - renewed this morning at the FIGC headquarters in Rome by federal president Gabriele Gravina and TIM CEO Pietro Labriola - that confirms TIM as the top partner of the Italian national football teams. "At the World Cup we want to make Italians fall in love again with women's football and do the best we can," said the coach. "TIM will be fundamental for us: New Zealand is far away and we know how important it will be to stay connected with our loved ones." This was reiterated by the Azzurri captain, who added: "We need people who believe in our movement in the long term, easy to be by our side when everything shines. The partnership with TIM means that this brand believes in us, supporting a movement that has great potential. We can grow together and have a really positive relationship."

After having lunch with the team before leading the afternoon training session, Milena Bertolini answered the reporters' questions in the usual press conference at the beginning of the training camp. "These are some important days, we have decided to play only one friendly so that we can work on the training pitch, coach the players in the best possible way and begin to define those elements that from a technical, tactical and group point of view will be fundamental during the World Cup". The coach, as well as the Azzurri selection panel, are trying to introduce some younger players to the international scene, four of whom are at their first call-up with the senior squad. "This is our last meeting before starting the preparation for the tournament. We have a bigger group with us than normal, there are girls who until a few months ago played with the Under 19 and Under 23 teams, our intention is to succeed in bringing together young and old. We are all really enthusiastic and motivated, the World Cup is a fantastic occasion and opportunity for female players and we will be ready for it."

The famous Azzurre captain has returned for this camp. "Happy to see Sara back, but not just her. Among the more experienced players, the return of Valentina Cernoia and Elisa Bartoli is also important. The biggest difficulty for me will be choosing the twenty-three who will go to the World Cup, because there are young players who are impressing and doing well. Martina Rosucci, on the other hand, is an important absence for us. She was a fundamental player for the national team both for her technical and tactical qualities, and we saw what she did in the last tournament, but also as a reference point within the team, she is an important leader, on the pitch and off it."

Tickets - Fans will be able to enter free of charge after registering on the Figc website. All information on how to get tickets will be announced tomorrow, Tuesday 4 April.

Media accreditations - Journalists are informed that accreditation operations for the Tre Fontane match are open exclusively on the online electronic system https://figc.getyourevent.online/ until Friday 7 April (12:00 CEST). It is possible to apply for accreditation after the necessary registration on the Accreditations FIGC portal.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Rachele Baldi (Fiorentina), Francesca Durante (Inter), Laura Giuliani (Milan);

Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (Roma), Valentina Bergamaschi (Milan), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Lucia Di Guglielmo (Roma), Maria Luisa Filangeri (Sassuolo), Sara Gama (Juventus), Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elena Linari (Roma), Benedetta Orsi (Sassuolo), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus);

Midfielders: Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Michela Catena (Fiorentina), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus), Giulia Dragoni* (Barcelona), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Giada Greggi (Roma), Matilde Pavan (Como Women), Eva Schatzer* (Juventus), Flaminia Simonetti (Inter);

Attackers: Chiara Beccari (Como Women), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Sofia Cantore (Juventus), Valentina Giacinti (Roma), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Benedetta Glionna (Roma), Martina Piemonte (Milan), Annamaria Serturini (Roma).

*will leave the squad on the afternoon of Tuesday 4 to join the U19s