Finally back to business. After using the last few days to address the reasons for their lack of success in the European Championship, Milena Bertolini's team are ready to turn over a new leaf and let their playing do the talking once again. On the Azzurre's path remain the last two matches of the World Cup Qualifiers, which must be won in order to keep Switzerland at bay – currently two points behind - and secure their place in the tournament that will be played in August next year in Australia and New Zealand. At 17:30 CEST tomorrow, Italy will face Moldova at the Zimbru Stadium in Chișinău, while they'll then come up against Romania at the Stadio Paolo Mazza next Tuesday (18.30 CEST).

For the Azzurre, who once again are eager to showcase their great qualities, these two opponents are very much beatable. "We return with a great deal of motivation and a desire to achieve our fundamental goal," said the Head Coach to the reporters of Rai Sport. "We want to show the fans and spectators that the team they saw during the European Championship was not the real Italy."

Bertolini spoke convincingly in the knowledge that their disappointing European campaign is now a distant memory. "At Coverciano, I spoke with the team and each of us expressed our opinions," she added. "It was an important moment to make sure that we can start again with confidence and enthusiasm. We all have a great desire to qualify for the World Cup for a second consecutive time; it would be a very important goal for the girls, the Federation and, more generally, for Italian women's football. We will do everything we can to achieve it."

For both fixtures, Milena Bertolini has had to leave out the injured Gama, Bergamaschi, Bonansea, Cernoia and Durante, a long list to which Linari has now also been added, on account of a muscle strain that will prevent her from playing in Chișinău. But above and beyond individuals, it will be their team spirit over the next 180 minutes that stands between them and a plane ticket to Oceania. It all starts with tomorrow's match against the Moldovans, bottom of the group with one point and convincingly beaten 3-0 in the reverse fixture. "It is true that their ranking is much lower than ours," concluded the Head Coach. "However, the difference is always the attitude: we are working a lot on this aspect, because if you make a mistake in your approach to a match then you risk a lot, even against national teams that are weaker on paper."

After these next two games, in the case of a tie for first place in the group, goal difference will be the decisive factor in edging out the Swiss – awaiting their games against Croatia and Lithuania – who currently sit five goals behind the Azzurre. Therefore, the forwards will need to be on top form and in particular Girelli, who will be looking to lead her teammates towards qualification. "I hope to be captain just for these two matches, as we all wait for Gama's return," said the number 10. "Wearing the armband is a source of pride and a great honour. We are aware that we had a bad Euros and it is an experience that has left its mark on us. We are disappointed but we want to make amends. We want to see our fans smile again, who were certainly as sad as we were this summer."

A common theme running through the statements of the Juventus and Italy goalscorer is the desire to make amends, the desire to close the door on recent events and return to dreaming big. "This summer we have received a lot of criticism, some constructive, the rest less so," concluded Girelli. "This is what we regret: ours is a process that has always needed the support of everyone. Together with the fans, we have achieved great results, and having disappointed them has been our main regret. It is up to us to show that we are not the team they saw in the European Championship, and we will succeed by taking to the field with energy and humility. There is a fire inside us, and we want to improve and regain the enthusiasm that has always defined us. I hope that the sceptics can quickly change their minds."

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Roberta Aprile (Juventus), Laura Giuliani (Milan), Katja Schroffenegger (Fiorentina);

Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (Roma), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Lucia Di Guglielmo (Roma), Maria Luisa Filangeri (Sassuolo), Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elena Linari (Roma), Angelica Soffia (Milan), Alice Tortelli (Fiorentina);

Midfielders: Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Michela Catena (Fiorentina), Aurora Galli (Everton), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Giada Greggi (Roma), Martina Rosucci (Juventus), Flaminia Simonetti (Inter);

Forwards: Agnese Bonfantini (Juventus), Sofia Cantore (Juventus), Valentina Giacinti (Roma), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Benedetta Glionna (Roma), Martina Piemonte (Milan).