Harsh, winter-like conditions have greeted the Women’s National Team on their arrival in Riscone, Brunico as they begin the third phase of their preparations for the FIFA World Cup, which is set to take place in France from 7 June to 7 July. Today, the Azzurre will complete a double session under the instructions of Head Coach Milena Bertolini, who celebrated being inducted into the Italian football Hall of Fame yesterday before travelling to meet up with the team.

Elena Linari is now back with the group after winning the league with her club Atletico Madrid. “I avoided two weeks of training camp,” she joked after arriving in Brunico. “Now, I want to train the best way I can to get ready for what will be the best World Cup in the history of the women’s game. We know where we’ve come from but don’t know where we’ll end up. We know that it’ll be a great achievement to get past the group stage, and obviously we’ll try to go as far as we can in the tournament.”

Elena has already played in one World Cup in 2012, when she played with the Under-20 National Team in Japan. She also scored a great goal in that tournament against Brazil, one of the sides that await the Azzurre in June: “When I look back at that goal, I still can’t believe I scored it. It was a fantastic feeling. Now, there’s a new dream to be fulfilled, and I’m certain that we’ll give 200% to achieve it.”

On Friday, Milena Bertolini will submit Italy’s 23-player World Cup squad to FIFA, while on Wednesday 29 May (kick-off: 15:00 CEST) Italy will face Switzerland at the Stadio Paolo Mazza In Ferrara in what will be their final friendly before departing for France on Sunday 2 June.

Squad list for the third phase of the Azzurre’s preparations

Goalkeepers: Francesca Durante (Fiorentina Women’s), Laura Giuliani (Juventus), Chiara Marchitelli (Florentia), Rosalia Pipitone (AS Roma);

Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (AS Roma), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Laura Fusetti (Milan), Sara Gama (Juventus), Alia Guagni (Fiorentina Women’s), Elena Linari (Atletico Madrid), Linda Cimini Tucceri (Milan);

Midfielders: Greta Adami (Fiorentina Women’s), Lisa Alborghetti (Milan), Valentina Bergamaschi (Milan), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus), Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Milan), Alice Parisi (Fiorentina Women’s), Martina Rosucci (Juventus), Annamaria Serturini (AS Roma);

Forwards: Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina Women’s), Daniela Sabatino (Milan), Stefania Tarenzi (Chievo Verona).

Staff – Head Coach: Milena Bertolini; Team Manager: Elide Martini; Secretary: Alessandra Savini Nicci; Assistant Coaches: Attilio Sorbi and Federica D’Astolfo; Fitness Coaches: Stefano D’Ottavio and Francesco Perondi; Goalkeeper Coach: Cristiano Viotti; Match analyst: Marco Mannucci; Doctors: Matteo Guzzini and Marco Scarcia; Physiotherapists: Maurizio D’Angelo, Roberto Cardarelli and Daniele Frosoni; Nutritionist: Natale Gentile.