Smiles, commitment and plenty of desire to work hard to continue preparations for the Euros in the best possible fashion. The Azzurre have completed their first day of work in Castel di Sangro, where they’ll remain until their match against Spain at 17:00 CEST on Friday 1 July at the Stadio Teofilo Patini.

After a morning training session that saw Martina Lenzini involved again after a month out with a muscle problem, FIGC President Gabriele Gravina paid the team a surprise visit in the afternoon. Gravina spoke to Milena Bertolini and accompanying manager Chiara Marchitelli before watching Gama and Co. train.

There’s plenty of enthusiasm surrounding the side as the Euros draw nearer, and the players are also aware of this. Laura Giuliani doesn’t think that the Azzurre have anything to fear: “We mustn’t set limits,” she said in an interview in the mixed zone. “We have three important group matches where we have to play as well as we possibly can. Then, we’ll have earned what happens next. We want to be successful and will be ready.”

Sassuolo defender Maria Luisa Filangeri also spoke and emphasised the qualities of a group that is fully focused and united and ready to once again enthuse millions of Italians, as was the case during the 2019 World Cup. “This is a National Team that can do a lot because we’re training as best we can and there are many experienced players who took part in a World Cup and are used to playing at certain levels. I’m trying to do my best to be included in the squad for the European Championship.”