Michela Cambiaghi is the newest arrival in the Italy Women’s National team. The Inter forward, born in 1996, is best described by her eye for the goal. After being part of the Azzurre youth sides, she has finally achieved her dream of playing for the Italy senior team. At a young age, she would sneak out of the house to play football with her brother Simone, 5 years her senior, and his friends. Moved, she said: “The senior National team has always been a dream, and at the same time, a goal. I have worked year after year to deserve a call-up. I want to improve to try and integrate into the squad: the level here is very high”.

After starting to play at 6 years with Concorezzese, her local side, she joined Fiammamonza in 2010 and made her debut with their first team (Serie A2). Then she played for Inter Milano, Mozzanica, Como 2000, Sassuolo, and Parma. Now, she has been at Inter since the start of the season. She emphasised: “All of my experiences have helped me to grow. I have always tried to improve myself and, now that I am at a big club and an international, I want to continue to grow alongside the girls who are the best in the game for me”.

In the group, there is someone in particular who has always been an inspiration to the Azzurre player: “I have always looked up to Cristiana Girelli as a forward, I watched and still watch her trying to learn the details of her movements. Being here with her and the others brings me great pride”.

On the other hand, her father Alberto was a source of inspiration at home. An ex-player for teams including Messina (115 appearances and 12 goals) and AC Milan (Mitropa Cup 1981/82 winners). Cambiaghi specified: “My dad always helped me by giving me advice, but without being too overbearing. He would tell me a couple of things, without hovering over me, and I would focus on them. Over the last few years, he decided to leave me to follow my own path”.

A path that saw the player born in Vimercate achieve a degree in Economic Science at the Università degli Studi di Bergamo last March, handing in a dissertation titled ‘Athlete Branding in the Women’s Serie A: analysing the Factors that Determine Instagram Engagement’: “When I began to play football, I also studied just like my parents advised. Year after year, I liked what I was doing and I wanted to finish that journey”.

CAMPAIGN. Ahead of the game against Spain, scheduled for Friday 27 October at 17:45 CEST) at the Stadio Arechi, on matchday 3 of the Lega A Group 4 of the UEFA Women’s Nations League, the Azzurre will take part in the Komen Italia campaign “Prevenzione is our goal”. The national program offers an ever-increasing number of people free access to education and prevention of the main cancers that disproportionately affect each gender. The Carovana della Prevenzione will take place between the 26 and 29 October from 9:30 CEST to 16:30 CEST in the Piazza della Concordia in Salerno.

The FIGC has decided to commit to affordable tickets for this game, with full prices starting at €5 and a €1 ticket for Under-18s and Over-65s. Tickets are available at Vivaticket vendors and on the following websites: figc.vivaticket.it and vivaticket.com.

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Roberta Aprile (Juventus), Rachele Baldi (Fiorentina), Laura Giuliani (Milan), Katja Schroffenegger (Fiorentina);
Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (Roma), Valentina Bergamaschi (Milan), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Lucia Di Guglielmo (Roma), Sara Gama (Juventus), Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elena Linari (Roma), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Alice Tortelli (Fiorentina);
Midfielders: Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Michela Catena (Fiorentina), Giulia Dragoni (Barcellona), Aurora Galli (Everton), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Giada Greggi (Roma), Martina Tomaselli (Roma);
Forwards: Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Agnese Bonfantini (Inter), Michela Cambiaghi (Inter), Sofia Cantore (Juventus), Benedetta Glionna (Roma), Valentina Giacinti (Roma), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Gloria Marinelli (Milan).

Schedule

Wednesday 25 October
10:00 CEST Training
15:50 CEST Departing Coverciano for Salerno

Thursday 26 October
15:45 CEST Press conference at the Arechi Stadium
16:45 CEST Official training on the eve of the game at the Arechi Stadium

Friday 27 October
17:45 CEST ITALY vs. Spain (live on Rai)
Immediate return to Coverciano

Saturday 28 October
15:30 CEST Training

Sunday 29 October
10:00 CET Training
15:45 CET Transfer to Florence airport and departure for Malmö

Monday 30 October
17:30 CET Official training on the eve of the game at the Malmö New Stadium

Tuesday 31 October
18:30 CET Sweden vs. ITALY (live on Rai)
Return to Italy

UEFA WOMEN’S NATIONS LEAGUE - LEGA A

GROUP 4: ITALY, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

Standings: Spain 6, Sweden and ITALY 3, Switzerland 0.

Matchday 1 (Friday 22 September)
Sweden 2-3 Spain
Switzerland 0-1 ITALY

Matchday 2 (Tuesday 26 September)
ITALY 0-1 Sweden 

Spain 5-0 Switzerland

Matchday 3 (Friday 27 October)
17:45 CEST: ITALY vs. Spain, Stadio Arechi in Salerno
18:30 CEST: Sweden vs. Switzerland, Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg

Matchday 4 (Tuesday 31 October)
18:30 CEST: Sweden vs. ITALY, Malmö New Stadium in Malmö
19:00 CEST: Switzerland vs. Spain, Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich

Matchday 5 (Friday 1 December)
Spain vs. ITALY, (Estadio Municipal de Pasarón, Pontevedra, time TBD)
20:00 CEST: Switzerland vs. Sweden, Luzern Arena in Lucerne

Matchday 6 (Tuesday 5 December)
Spain vs. Sweden, La Rosaleda in Málaga
ITALY vs. Switzerland, Stadio Ennio Tardini in Parma