The coach of the women’s national team engaged against Norway in the round of 16: “The fact that it is a race and direct elimination does not change our approach”
“We worked hard to get to this day, now let’s see where it will take us,” Manuela Giugliano smiles. And his eyes are also shining, because Italy – needless to deny it – flies the opportunity to return after 28 years among the top four in Europe. Exactly one year after July 16, 2024, when the qualification for this European has arrived in Bolzano. In the quarter -final of Geneva, the Azzurre presents themselves (according to the ranking and bookmakers) slightly favored on Norway, but they don’t want to hear it. However, in the air, however, the trust of being able to watch eyes in the eyes has been a great power of European women’s football – two titles conquered in 1987 and 1993 -, but which today does not appear so far away, as the two draws in the double crossing in the Nations League of a year ago also certify. Like all Nordic teams, the Norwegians do not live their historical moment of maximum splendor. But eye: in the group they won all three games, including the insidious one of debut against the Swiss hostess. Looking at the first 270 minutes of Euro 2025, they clearly convinced more than the blue who qualified with four points.
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“The fact that it is a turn for direct elimination does not change our approach – the thought on the eve of the coach Soncin -, even the first game against Belgium was a substantial inside or outside for us. We have edited every detail, including the management of rest and the emotional one. We know that many Italians will come here in Geneva and many will push us in front of the TV (on Rai 1, 9 pm), we feel the responsibility of being able to turn on the passion of many girls approaching football “. Having said that, Soncin-already usually cryptic, this time more-does not suggest what his choices may be, after having deployed Italy with 3-5-2 in the first two games and having redesigned it with 3-4-3 (thus giving space to Bonansea forward) in the painless defeat with Spain. In any case, Giugliano is certain of a shirt in the middle of the field, in what is the tournament of full maturity for her (27 years) after the nomination for the last golden ball (27th place) and after having also attracted the interest of the Arabs (with a first offer, apparently, kindly declined by Rome). By the way: in front of us there will be Ada Hegerberg, the first winner of the women’s golden ball in 2018 and the champion of Lyon, who in the stake of the Stade de Geneve has kept declaring: “It is important for all the movement of women’s football that there is an Italy at the highest levels, like the one we are going to face”. Watch out for the caress, she is used to biting.