A World Cup debut, signing the national anthm in front of 31,000 spectators at Eden Park, a late victory and celebrations with the teammates she has spent and been helped by in the build-up to the tournament. There was this and much more on a magical evening for Chiara Beccari, who yesterday, along with Giulia Dragoni, against Argentina became the youngest Italy player to start in the competition's history.

At just 18 years old, the Juventus forward from San Marino (currently on loan at Sassuolo) put aside the emotions of the occasion to bring forth her enormous talent that allowed her - after only two caps for the Senior Team - to perform as if she was already a veteran. “It was a day I, Giulia and the rest of the team will never forget," said the 'student' of Cristiana Girelli. "It was a very important win, and also a tough win because tactically they were well positioned across the pitch and at the start we were a bit tense. Then, we relaxed a little and managed to impose our game on proceedings. We're proud to have earned the three points.”

Before turning the page to focus on the next game with Sweden, scheduled for Saturday 29 July at the Regional Stadium in Wellington (09:30 CEST, live on Rai 1), Beccari described her feelings of delight following the game: “It was an intense evening; I struggled to sleep afterwards. I had a lot of thoughts, emotions and happiness. I received lots of messages from people who have always been with me and supported me on my journey; I'm so happy to have shared this joy with them. I must thank the Head Coach, the staff and all the entire squad: they have made me really relaxed and focused telling me to just ‘play simple football', as I know and we know how to. In the end, it turned out well.”

She was one of the first players to go over and hug the Azzurre captain and goalscorer, who clinched the win in the 88th minute. A special relationship developed between the two at Juventus, which has now carried over to Italy. Girelli, whose header yesterday put her joint-leading Azzurre scorer at World Cup Finals with Carolina Morace (four goals), as well as the first Italian female player to net in two editions of the competition, believes Chiara is the 'striker of the future'. Beccari, though, has already been progressed quickly, experiencing all the Azzurre Youth levels (from Under 16s to Under 23s) and making her first-team senior debut on 11 April of this year, earning her right to be alongside Cristiana (“my reference point”) and the other experienced players in the dressing room. 

Rther than passing over the batten, the union and right blend of youth and experience is one of the strong points in Milena Bertolini's group: “Yesterday, we saw a nice mix on the pitch and we can say it went well. I hope it's only the beginning of a long journey, both in this World Cup and in general. We want to leave everything out there in the next two games and continue our journey in the best possible way. It matters a lot to us."