With the Women’s World Cup in France officially kicking off at the Parc des Princes in Paris for the opening match between the host nation and South Korea. Italy will kick off on Sunday at the Stade du Hainaut in Valenciennes against Australia with over 16,500 tickets sold for the opening match.

If Sam Kerr is the key player for the Matildas, Barbara Bonansea can cause problems for the Australian defence which has conceded eight in the last two friendlies against the United States and the Netherlands. "For now, we’re all calm," said the Juventus forward. "Maybe we’ll start to feel the tension when we get to the ground. "I hope that it’s a positive tension that transforms into something useful. Australia are a good side, they’re tough but I feel that we can do well."

The first aim is to make it to the knockout stages but Barbara doesn’t want to set limits. "I want to win. It’s not written that only France or the United States can win." Team spirit could give the team something extra. "Apart from us, the Men’s Senior and Under-21 National Teams will play and the Under-20 National Team will play today. We’ll support them and we’re sure that they’ll support us. The Federation has always made us feel an important part of the Azzurri set-up."

The numbers also state Bonansea’s importance to the team with Cristiana Girelli the only other ever-present in World Cup qualifying. Only Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso (9) has made more assists than the Juventus midfielder (6) and she has also scored three goals of her own, directly contributing to nine goals. It’s no surprise therefore that one of the world’s strongest clubs, Lyon, have been courting her for some time. "Two years ago, I decided not to go because I was fascinated by the Juventus project."

More important than the past is the present in what could be a massive World Cup. "My father is afraid of flying so my parents have bought a camper van to travel to France and see me. I hope that there will be lots of Italian fans at the stadium on Sunday, they can give us a big hand. We’re getting more well-known thanks to the media attention and I hope that those who watch us this summer will continue to do so in the future." 

Born in 1985, Chiara Marchitelli is the veteran in the squad: "This is a new experience for me too, even if I played at an Under-19 World Cup," she said at the press conference. "Two days before, you start to feel the emotion of it all but I also think about where we are now compared to when I started playing. Not many people knew about women’s football, even my mum wasn’t happy about it. I went to a hidden pitch to train with my best friend. After the years, one of the greatest satisfactions for me was when she told me that I made the right choice."

"We had pitches made of earth in Rome," said the goalkeeper. "Nobody came to watch us. I’ve seen the evolution of women’s football in Italy and I could never have imagined what’s happened in recent years. It was time." Chiara’s story saw her play in goal for the first time after the regular goalkeeper was missing and the coach put here there as the tallest player. "The coach was Sergio Guenza who was a great coach who was also the Italy Coach. I played in midfield and I definitely didn’t want to go in goal. After that match, it took another year to fully convince me." Diving into things is something that she’s always enjoyed. "When I was small, I wanted to be a diver but I lived in a small village in the province of Rome and it wasn’t easy because there wasn’t even a swimming pool. Tania Cagnotto, Federica Pellegrini and Roger Federer are the sportspeople that I admire the most. Buffon? In my position, he’s an institution."

On Sunday at the Stade du Hainaut, her sister, mother and cousin will be in the stands. "I’ve seen some videos of Sam Kerr who is a very powerful forward. She’s strong and aggressive like all of Australia. It seems boring to say it but we’re counting on the group. It doesn’t matter who players, everyone will support each other and this is our secret weapon." 

World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Laura Giuliani (Juventus), Chiara Marchitelli (Florentia), Rosalia Pipitone (AS Roma);
Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (AS Roma), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Laura Fusetti (Milan), Sara Gama (Juventus), Alia Guagni (Fiorentina Women’s), Elena Linari (Atletico Madrid), Linda Tucceri Cimini (Milan);
Midfielders: Valentina Bergamaschi (Milan), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus), Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Milan), Alice Parisi (Fiorentina Women’s), Martina Rosucci (Juventus), Annamaria Serturini (AS Roma);
Forwards: Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina Women’s), Daniela Sabatino (Milan), Stefania Tarenzi (Chievo Verona).

National Team schedule (all times CEST)

Saturday 8 June
11:00 CEST – Training at the Stadio Christophe Laurent in Valenciennes (first 15 minutes open to public)
13:30 – Press conference at the Stadio du Hainaut (Head Coach and a player)
14:00 - Walk around

Sunday 9 June
13:00 – Australia vs. Italy (Stadio du Hainaut)
Followed by press conference

Monday 10 June
10:00 – Training at the Stadio Christophe Laurent in Valenciennes (first 15 minutes open to public)
Followed by press commitments
12:30 – Lunch
14:00 – Departure for Reims from Valenciennes
16:15 – Arrival in Reims

Tuesday 11 June
13:00 – Lunch
Followed by a press conference with a player at the Hotel
18:00 – Training at the Stadio Jean Bucton (first 15 minutes open to public)

Wednesday 12 June
13:00 – Lunch
Followed by a press conference with a player at the Hotel
18:00 – Training at the Stadio Jean Bucton (behind closed doors)

Thursday 13 June
11:00 – Training at the Stadio Jean Bucton (first 15 minutes open to public)
18:30 – Press conference at the Stadio Auguste Delaune (Head Coach and a player)
19:00 - Walkaround

Friday 14 June
18:00 – Jamaica vs. Italy (Stadio Auguste Delaune)
Followed by press conference

Saturday 15 June
10:00 – Training (first 15 minutes open to public)
Followed by press commitments
12:30 – Lunch
14:00 – Bus for Lille
16:45 – Arrival in Lille

Sunday 16 June
12:30 – Lunch
Followed by a press conference with a player at the Hotel
18:00 – Training at Le Stadium in Villeneuve d’Ascq (behind closed doors)

Monday 17 June
17:00 – Press conference at the Stadio du Hainaut (Head Coach and a player)
19:00 – Training at Le Stadium in Villeneuve d’Ascq (first 15 minutes open to public)

Tuesday 18 June
21:00 – Italy vs. Brasile (Stadio du Hainaut)
Followed by press conference

N.B. The schedule could be subject to changes