Giulia Dragoni, 16, will remember the Women’s World Cup for a long time after starting for Italy against Argentina on Monday. Dragoni, who was born on November 7, 2006, started the Group G match in the center of Italy’s midfield and became the competition’s youngest player. According to FIFA, she is the second-youngest European to compete in the competition.
Dragoni, nicknamed ‘Little Messi,’ is wearing the No. 16 shirt, which corresponds to her age. In contrast, Vanina Correa, 39, was in goal for Argentina and had already made her debut when Dragoni was born.
And the teenager was instrumental in Italy’s opening encounter against Argentina, providing energy and quality in the center of the pitch before being substituted in the 83rd minute. Italy, a 2019 quarterfinalist, was the stronger team throughout the opening game at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, with some late excellence from Cristiana Girelli proving pivotal as Italy prevailed 1-0.
Italy beats Argentina 1-0 with Girelli’s late header
Both Arianna Caruso and Valentina Giacinti had goals disallowed for offside after starting their separate runs a little too early in the first half. After the interval, with both teams desperate not to lose their first game, chances were few and far between, with both teams preferring error avoidance over attacking recklessness.
Vanina Correa in the Argentina goal was called upon to make a few basic saves, but the real contest was the midfield stalemate, with both sides canceling each other out for the most part. Both managers attempted to alter the game’s flow by inserting players from the bench – and it was an Italy substitution who made the difference.
Girelli, the Azzurre squad’s oldest player, came on late in the game and showed why she’s become a national icon with a looping header that gave Italy a late lead. Girelli delivered a masterclass, scoring her 54th international goal on her 104th appearance and, more crucially, securing Italy a crucial three points to begin its World Cup campaign.