After having yesterday off, the Women’s National Team was back in training this afternoon in Montpellier ahead of the Round of 16 match. The Azzurre will face China on Tuesday 25th June with kick-off at 18:00 CEST at the Stade de La Mosson. China qualified after taking four points in Group B after losing a tight game with Germany, beating South Africa and drawing 0-0 with Spain.

Against a side that doesn’t give much away, the forwards will have to do their bit to break down China’s defence. Ilaria Mauro hopes so as she looks to score her first goal at the tournament. “Barbara, Aurora and Cristiana have all scored, obviously I’d really like to score in the next game but we’re a very united group and it doesn’t matter who plays or who scores,” she said in today’s press conference. “What matters is giving 100 per cent in training, then it’s the Coach who decides who to play and she only announces the team a few hours before the start of the match.”

Milena Bertolini can count on a large number of talented options up front and can make different decisions depending on what characteristics are needed. “I tend to protect the ball,”  said the Fiorentina forward. I like ‘going to war’. Giacinti is very quick like how at Milan she made the most of balls from Giugliano, she scores a lot on the break. Sabatino, on the other hand, is like Inzaghi in the box.”

China have a glorious history, making the 1999 World Cup final when the USA eventually won on penalties on home soil. China are currently ranked 16th in the world, knocked off 15th by Italy. The side coached by Jia Xiuquan have had some difficulties in front of goal at this World Cup with just one goal scored but they’re very strong at the back with just one goal against after they picked up clean sheets against South Africa and Spain.

In the seven previous meetings, Italy have won three, drawn two and lost two. The two most recent meetings were in December 2015 in friendlies played in Guiyang and Qujing when Italy were coached by Antonio Cabrini. The first match finished 1-1 with Melania Gabbiadini on the scoresheet along with Wang Shanshan while the second game in front of a 30,000 strong crowd saw the hosts win 2-0 thanks to Ren Guixin and Wang Shanshan.

“China are a very tough opponent,” Ilaria confirmed. “They played very well in the three group games. They’re small and very quick, these teams always put us in difficulty but we’ll find a way to beat them. We’re very focused, to make the quarter-finals would be amazing,”

Born and raised in Gemona del Friuli, Ilaria started out in volleyball but was recommended by her coach to change sport when she preferred to kick the ball. “I started playing on the right wing because I was very thin and ran a lot, it was like I was flying. Then at Tavagnacco I became a centre-forward and everything changed from there.” Experience with Germany after the 2013 European Championship helped Mauro to grow on and off the pitch. “I played there for three years. Then, there was a big difference compared to Italian football. It was tough but I’d do it again. In Germany, I learned how to train as a professional.” 

In Italy, the team is getting great support with rapid growth on social media and over 7 million fans watched the match on TV while various public figures have offered their support. “It still hasn’t really sunk in that we got through the group stage. Italy hadn’t appeared at the World Cup in 20 years and I would never have thought that the team would do so well. Every day, I hear from my parents and they say that the level of interest in Italy is crazy now. We’ve all noticed that.”

Schedule

Friday 21 June 
13:45 - Press conference (with a player at the hotel)
18:00 -  Training (First 15 minutes open to the press)

Saturday 22 June
13:45 - Press conference (with a player at the hotel)
18:00 -  Training (First 15 minutes open to the press)

Sunday 23 June
13:45 - Press conference (with a player at the hotel)
18:00 -  Training (closed)

Monday 24 June

16:00 - Training (First 15 minutes open to the press)

18:30 - Press conference at the Stade de La Mosson (Coach and one player)
19:00 - Walkaround

Tuesday 25 June
18:00 - Italy v.s China (media activities to follow)

Note: All times CEST and subject to change