“I was just a little girl chasing a dream.” It’s a special day for Elisa Bartoli, and not just because it’s her father’s birthday. Indeed, she is currently reflecting on ten years in Azzurre colours. From her debut at the European Championship on 10 July 2013 to the team’s training camp in Auckland, where Italy are hard at work ahead of the World Cup.

Ten years have gone by quickly in a shirt that - along with the Roma jersey - she considers to be a second skin. “The years seem to have flown by,” said the Giallorosse captain. “When I look back, I can see three European Championships, two World Cups and many other satisfactions. I feel honoured and am proud of what I’ve managed to do.” It hasn’t been easy, as she herself admits, but, with the support of her family, she was able to establish herself in a world she didn’t know. “I’ve always loved this sport, but, as a kid, I wasn’t aware that women’s teams existed. I consider myself lucky because I’ve been on an important journey. As destiny had it, it all began on the day of my father’s birthday. He dreamt of becoming a player and I managed to achieve it. I’m proud I’ve been able to give him this joy.”

Elisa was convinced she wouldn’t play against Finland in the first match of the Euros in Sweden. At the time, Antonio Cabrini was the Head Coach of a talented group that included the likes of Alice Parisi, Melania Gabbiadini, Patrizia Panico and the youngsters Cecilia Salvai and Sara Gama, the latter of whom got injured in the pre-match warm-up. “My debut came unexpectedly. I was in the changing room and Giorgia Motta arrived and told me that I needed to leave because I’d be playing. I thought she was joking, also because we played in the same position and she was much more experienced than I was. In the end, however, I took to the pitch and everything went well.”

In addition to her debut, she also has fond memories of the 2019 World Cup. It was Italy’s first involvement in the tournament in 20 years: “It was a special experience and a wonderful event. I remember so many Italians following us and all the fans in the stands; it was probably the first time I’d played in stadiums that were so full.” The brilliant atmosphere helped Milena Bertolini’s side surprise everyone as they deservedly reached the quarter-finals: “We didn’t place any demands on ourselves at the start; we just told each other to live it to the full. We earned our spot, and the best thing is we went on that journey having started from nothing. The first match against Australia was a real turning point. We didn’t expect to make it to the last eight, especially having not yet turned professional. One of my best memories from that time has to do with my sister. She’s never left my side; she’s my biggest fan and has followed me everywhere. I’ll never forget her shirt on backwards, her face painting and her smile that accompanied me as I ran down the wing. It was as if she was the one on the pitch.”

Beyond family members, there was also the affection of the millions of Italians who fell in love with the National Team: “The best thing is all the people who were behind us, all the fans who called my name and welcomed me with glistening eyes when I returned to Rome. It was wonderful because we helped Italy experience a moment of happiness.”

After a triumphant season in Roma colours – “it’s still not over; we want to finish it in the best way possible,” she said without hesitation – Elisa is aiming to be a key figure at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. For the Azzurre, the tournament will kick off with a showdown against Argentina on 24 July at Eden Park in Auckland: “I feel a bit older heading into this new adventure. The expectations are higher now, whereas I experienced the last World Cup in a more relaxed manner. We need to make amends after a disappointing European Championship, but I don’t want the youngsters in the squad to feel responsible. It's only right for them to experience these next few weeks with a sense of calm, and if we approach the tournament in this way, I’m sure we’ll do well.”

Elisa and the other veterans of the squad are helping the new additions - starting from Severini, Beccari and Dragoni, all of whom are under the age of 20 - to get used to how the team play. She wants to be a positive influence: “I try to transmit determination and the desire to give everything in every training session, as well as to experience every day as if it were a new opportunity. The greatest satisfaction is the feeling of being seen when I do something. We’ve done a lot to be here, so the right reward is to experience it without too many thoughts. The youngsters are talented and have some great qualities, and we want to prove that we’re a strong group.”