Ready for the World Cup. If Italy’s men’s team failed to make the grade last year, leaving fans with a bitter taste in their mouths, the same cannot be said about the women, with team manager Milena Bartolini’s girls ready to challenge the world’s best and make a dream come true. There’s no doubt this a golden era for Italian women’s football – ever-increasing media attention (it’s no coincidence that the World Cup will be broadcast on Sky), full stadiums (record attendance of around 39,000 people for the Juventus-Fiorentina match), and a movement that can safely said to be in good health. Captain of the Italian team and one of the stars of the competition will be Sara Gama, whose club Juventus were last year’s Coppa Italia champions.
Last September Gama paid a visit to Montalcino to receive the Premio Casato Prime Donne “Prima Donna 2018” award instituted by Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s winery. Sara Gama, whose mother is from Trieste and her father Congolese, has become one of the symbols of Italian sport and an example for many young female footballers to follow. But she is also a fan of Brunello di Montalcino, because it’s only right that even champions allow themselves a good glass of wine every now and then. “Brunello is a great wine – the Juventus and Italy player told Montalcinonews.com – I’ve enjoyed it on several occasions. A sportsperson has to be careful, but wine should never be missing from the dinner table. It’s one of life’s pleasures, and we are lucky enough to live in a country that has few rivals”. Never a truer word. After twenty years, the Women’s National Team is once more competing in the World Cup, which will be held in France, and an entire country will be cheering on these brilliant athletes. They kick off on 9 June against Australia – so come on the Blues! And, why not, perhaps we’ll all drink a toast together with a fine vintage Brunello….