Sara Gama excluded from Italy’s World Cup roster
Sara Gama excluded from Italy’s World Cup roster
In a very long post on Instagram, Sara Gama, the 34-year-old female symbol of Italy’s women’s soccer in recent years, announced that she has been excluded from the roster for the upcoming World Cup, which will be held from July 20 to August 20 in Australia and New Zealand. Here is what Sara wrote.
“After being preconvoked and having carried out the physical preparation received, like my teammates, by the national team staff to maintain the optimal condition I had achieved in the last six months of work with my club, I learned only three days ago that I will not be part of the roster that will leave for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. I have always had great respect for roles and, as a professional, I accept the choice of the Technical Commissioner, despite the bitterness of these difficult hours for the manner and timing with which this decision was communicated to me.”
“I have given everything in the eighteen years I have been with the national team, since I first wore the blue jersey in 2005, first with the Under 17 and, since 2006, with the senior national team. I have had moments of great joy as a captain, such as winning the Under-19 European Championship in 2008, returning to the World Cup after 20 years in 2019, this historic second consecutive qualification to the top competition. There was also no shortage of difficult moments, but I went through them always with the pride of representing my country.”
“I never backed down, not even in the face of physical problems that could have discouraged me, such as those that unfortunately affected me at the last European Championship. I have always tried to be an example, to convey the professionalism, enthusiasm and pride needed to represent the Italian national team in the best way possible, working on and off the field to keep the group united and continue to grow together. I have fought together with my teammates and everyone who has supported us over the years to try to see equal rights and dignity recognized for the entire women’s soccer movement in our country.”
“With this baggage and with this spirit, putting myself completely at the disposal of the CT and the team, I prepared myself to be able to make my last contribution as captain to the national team. Unfortunately, that will not be possible. However, I remain proud of the path of growth and the results achieved on and off the field and I will continue to spend myself in the first person for the good of this jersey and the sport to which I have dedicated all of myself.”
“Together with the federal leadership, which I thank for the attestations of esteem and respect received, we will reflect in the exclusive interest of the National Blue Team on the idea of being part of the expedition, in different modalities and guises to be defined. We will certainly continue to work together for the growth of our movement.
And as always, the best of luck to my teammates, especially those who accompanied me on the longest stretches of this journey, in which we wrote the history of this sport.”
