Women’s European Championships: Italy-Belgium decides the future of the Azzurre
The Azzurre arrived at the exam without appeal. Tonight, Monday 18 July, at 21.00, in Blackburn Italy will face Belgium to try to recapture a qualification for the quarter-finals that has moved very far after the heavy 1-5 against France and the 1-1 with Iceland. To pass the turn, Barbara Bonansea and her companions must beat the Belgians and at the same time hope that France, already qualified, will not leave points in homage to Iceland, our direct competitor.
A very difficult situation, as the coach explains Milena Bertolini: “The first two matches didn’t go as we wanted, but the girls were good at not getting overwhelmed and getting back on track, especially after conceding the goal cold from the Icelanders. There was a reaction from the group and I expect a great performance with Belgium ”.
The very difficult start of Italy in the women’s European Championship has brought to light the big disadvantage of our “pink” football compared to other countries in which there are structures and investments that are definitely not within our reach. However, as often happens in football, when things go wrong it is the manager who pays. The same Milena Bertolini risks a lot: in case of non-qualification, he could be exonerated.
It would really be a painful retaliation for the former footballer who, after becoming a coach, led the Azzurre to a decidedly unusual recovery for the sporting history of our country, very little inclined towards women’s football. On the occasion of the 2019 World Cup, Milena Bertolini it had even become the symbol of a movement that wanted to grow up to compete with the male one and which then had to clash with Covid, which stopped many ambitions, including this one. Now, however, a European started really uphill really seems to represent a rude awakening. We will see if, as often happens in football, instead of going to the bottom of the problems we will look for the most comfortable solution.
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