The Azzurre have completed their first week of work in Auckland, where, at Keith Hay Park, they will take on hosts New Zealand behind closed doors at 19:00 local time (9:00 CEST) tomorrow. On the eve of the friendly, which will be Italy’s final game before they kick off their World Cup campaign against Argentina on Monday 24 July, Milena Bertolini took stock of the state of play and how the group has adapted to the time zone change.

“Everything’s going well,” said the Head Coach as she spoke to journalists via video call. “The players are settling into this new setting in the best way possible. The more days that pass, the more they’re adapting, especially when it comes to sleeping hours. We’re in a beautiful place, the atmosphere is stimulating and we feel really comfortable at the training centre. Everyone is really focused, but we’re involved in the World Cup finals and it’d be strange if this wasn’t the case.”

Italy are ready to face the New Zealanders, who head into the game on the back of a 2-0 friendly victory over Vietnam. It’ll be the fourth meeting between the two sides: the Azzurre lost the first two (in 2010 and 2013) but won the last encounter in the Algarve Cup in March 2020, with Girelli, Bonansea and Tarenzi finding the net in a comfortable 3-0 success. The Head Coach will be looking for a similar performance tomorrow in a game where all the players will get some playing time: “We’re making strides forward from a physical perspective, and it’ll be an important test to see where we’re at,” said Bertolini. “Just like the other sides here, New Zealand’s physical intensity is high. It’ll be a proper match, and I expect the girls to adapt to our opponents and be ready from the very first few minutes. We’ll need to be strong in the tackle and fast with our thinking.”

The Head Coach isn’t worried about the integration of the newcomers, many of whom have only been involved in the Azzurre setup for a few months: “Ours is a mixed group. Both on and off the pitch, the more experienced players are guiding our younger ones, who are enthusiastic and talented. They’re integrating really well, also because there’s this willingness to create unity. There are positive feelings.” 

After talking about the qualities of captain Girelli, Beccari and Dragoni - the two youngsters are, in the Head Coach’s opinion, ready to play - Milena Bertoli looked ahead to the team’s opening World Cup fixture: “Argentina are a high-quality team with great temperament, meaning they’ll be very tough to face. We saw in April against Colombia how difficult it is to face South American sides. It’ll be a very balanced affair and an intense match from both a physical and technical perspective.”

Milena Bertolini led the Azzurre to their second consecutive World Cup for the first time in history. This achievement is a source of pride for the players and technical staff, all of whom are dreaming of enthusing Italians in the same way they did four years ago in France: “This will be a different tournament for many reasons. There’s probably only one similarity compared to the last World Cup: our desire to do well and surprise. Back then, there wasn’t any pressure, but this is part of the game and we have to get used to it. We have a great opportunity and, during this adventure, need to do what we know and what we like doing. We have to draw positive energy from our passion for the game, and I’m sure we’ll do so.” After three weeks of preparations, the Azzurre “can’t wait to take to the pitch and really get into the World Cup spirit,” the Head Coach concluded. For Italy, it kicks off in eleven days.