Italy 1-0 Argentina: Cristiana Girelli grabs late winner in Women’s World Cup opener for Azzurre

Italy are appearing at their fourth Fifa Women’s World Cup and are two-time quarter-finalists

Striker Cristiana Girelli came off the bench to head an 87th-minute winner in Italy’s Women’s World Cup opener against Argentina.

Girelli replaced midfielder Giulia Dragoni, who at the age of 16 years and 259 days became one of the youngest players in the tournament’s history.

The record belongs to Ifeanyi Chiejine, who was 16 years and 34 days when she played for Nigeria in 1999.

Azzurre manager Milena Bertolini put her faith in youngster Dragoni who only made her debut for the senior side on 1 July, but ultimately it was experienced Juventus player Girelli who made the difference.

It looked as though Italy were going to be frustrated by a gritty defensive performance by Argentina before substitute Girelli, who replaced Dragoni in the 83rd minute, nodded the winner.

The vastly experienced Girelli got on the end of Lisa Boattin’s cross and looped the ball over Vanina Correa to secure a 1-0 victory.

In front of a crowd of 30,889 spectators, Italy had earlier seen goals by Arianna Caruso and Valentina Giacinti ruled out for offside.

A tetchy contest which included six bookings was stopped numerous times to allow players to have treatment.

Italy, who also included 18-year-old forward Chiara Beccari from the start, go to Wellington next to play Sweden, who also have three points in Group G, on Saturday (kick-off 08:30 BST).

Argentina’s next match is against South Africa in Dunedin on Friday (01:00 BST).

Youngster Dragoni plays her part

Italy have lost their way since an impressive showing at the 2019 World Cup which included wins over Australia, Jamaica and China.

They disappointed at Euro 2022 and 13 of Bertolini’s 23 players at this tournament are appearing on the World Cup stage for the first time.

The Italy boss produced a major surprise before kick-off by naming Dragoni in her starting XI – just three weeks after the youngster made her debut for Le Azzurre aged 16 years and 236 days.

She has been nicknamed ‘Little Messi’ and played her part in her country’s win with some confident touches, with the teenager finishing the match with an 86.4% passing accuracy.

While Dragoni started, forward Girelli, defender Elisa Bartoli and midfielder Valentina Cernoia – who have more than 200 caps between them and are appearing at their second World Cup – had to make do with seats on the bench.

Girelli made her presence felt after climbing off the bench to settle the match and break Argentina’s hearts.

La Albiceleste thought they had earned themselves a crucial point and looked crestfallen after Girelli struck before Florencia Bonsegundo was denied an equaliser in the closing moments by Francesca Durante.

The hunt for a first World Cup win goes on for Argentina, who have lost eight of their 10 games spanning four editions of the tournament.

Player of the match

DragoniGiulia Dragoni

Italy

Squad number16Player nameDragoni

Squad number10Player nameGirelli

Squad number14Player nameBeccari

Squad number17Player nameBoattin

Squad number9Player nameGiacinti

Squad number7Player nameCantore

Squad number18Player nameCaruso

Squad number4Player nameDi Guglielmo

Squad number20Player nameGreggi

Squad number8Player nameBonansea

Squad number6Player nameGiugliano

Squad number5Player nameLinari

Squad number22Player nameDurante

Squad number23Player nameSalvai

Argentina

Squad number22Player nameBanini

Squad number10Player nameIppólito

Squad number9Player nameGramaglia

Squad number3Player nameStábile

Squad number15Player nameBonsegundo

Squad number16Player nameBenítez

Squad number8Player nameFalfán

Squad number19Player nameLarroquette

Squad number11Player nameRodríguez

Squad number7Player nameNúñez

Squad number6Player nameCometti

Squad number13Player nameBraun

Squad number1Player nameCorrea

Squad number14Player nameMayorga

Line-ups

Italy

Formation 4-2-3-1

22Durante

4Di Guglielmo5Linari23Salvai17Boattin

6Giugliano16Dragoni

8Bonansea18Caruso14Beccari

9Giacinti

22Durante4Di Guglielmo5Linari23Salvai17Boattin6Giugliano16DragoniSubstituted forGirelliat 83’minutes8BonanseaBooked at 85mins18CarusoBooked at 25minsSubstituted forGreggiat 58’minutes14Beccari9GiacintiSubstituted forCantoreat 74’minutesSubstitutes1Giuliani2Severini3Orsi7Cantore10Girelli11Glionna12Baldi13Bartoli15Serturini19Lenzini20Greggi21Cernoia

Argentina

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Correa

13Braun14Mayorga6Cometti3Stábile

8Falfán16Benítez

7Núñez22Banini15Bonsegundo

19Larroquette

1Correa13Braun14MayorgaBooked at 68mins6Cometti3StábileBooked at 90mins8FalfánSubstituted forIppólitoat 90+2’minutes16Benítez7NúñezSubstituted forRodríguezat 77’minutes22Banini15BonsegundoBooked at 76mins19LarroquetteBooked at 12minsSubstituted forGramagliaat 90+2’minutesSubstitutes2Sachs4Cruz5Santana9Gramaglia10Ippólito11Rodríguez12Esponda17Gómez18Chávez20Singarella21Lonigro23Cháves