Soccer-Italy hope World Cup showing can build women's game at home

Soccer Football - FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Italy Training - North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand - July 23, 2023 Italy players during training REUTERS/David Rowland

AUCKLAND (Reuters) - Italy hope to build the credibility of their women's soccer program as they kick off at the World Cup against Argentina at Eden park on Monday, coach Melina Bertolini said, using the momentum of their remarkable 2019 campaign.

Italy had not qualified for the tournament in two decades when they made the cut in 2019 and reached the quarter finals under Bertolini to match their best performance in the tournament from the 1991 inaugural year.