Nine months after the FIGC’s 120th-anniversary celebrations, the Azzurre today visited Quirinale to meet President Sergio Mattarella. The Head of State paid tribute to Milena Bertolini’s National Team following their recent World Cup campaign in France – one that ended in the quarter-finals after losing to the Netherlands.

Accompanied by CONI President Giovanni Malagò and FIGC President Gabriele Gravina, Head Coach Milena Bertolini, Captain Sara Gama and the rest of the squad enjoyed yet another day to remember during this incredible summer: “I asked to meet you because I wanted to give praise and thank you,” said Mattarella. “Not only due to the important results and wonderful play, but also because you brought the country together.” Before posing for a customary photo, the President received a personalised shirt from the Azzurre, as well as a World Cup ball signed by the whole team. “You won your World Cup campaign by conquering public opinion and shining a light on women’s football. You’ve encouraged plenty of young girls to enter the world of women’s football.”

Meanwhile, CONI President Giovanni Malagò also thanked the Head of State: “We were extremely pleased when the President expressed a desire to meet the team – one that entertained an entire country.” As for Gabriele Gravina, who was present in the stands for each one of the Azzurre’s fixtures, he said: “It was with immense pride and happiness that we accepted the President’s invitation to visit Quirinale. The Azzurre gifted us the chance to take part in a sporting event such as this, something which Italian football needed. I hope that this enthusiasm will now spread further through society. This World Cup will be remembered as the competition where every gender barrier was broken down. It’s only a starting point and we know that the hard bit is still to come: that is to give a future to the project of women’s football.”

As for Milena Bertolini and Sara Gama, they thanked the Head of State for the meeting – one that adds yet further prestige to the entire women’s football movement. “I think that we’ve managed to make Italy fall in love,” said the Head Coach. “And we hope to have also done the same with the President. We trust him to help us achieve professionalism and to eliminate all inequalities.” Lastly, Sara Gama said: “Italians fell in love with us and that love gave us motivation on a daily basis. We set off in this World Cup with the aim to make our sport known and we succeeded.”