Rude awakening for the Azzurri at the World Cup.

Rude awakening for Blue Women at the World Cup.

There was a rude awakening for the Italian women’s national soccer team, which came out of the challenge against Sweden in Wellington, New Zealand, with broken bones.

The Azzurre, fresh from the precious success with Argentina, did not start badly with the Scandinavians but went into a tailspin at the end of the first half when they conceded three goals in quick succession: they were scored by Ilestedt, Rolfo and Blackstenius.

At the beginning of the second half, Ilestedt conceded an encore, then coach Bertolini changed the game with a series of substitutions but the score did not move away from 4-0 until the 96th minute, when newcomer Rebecka Blomqvist also joined the party.

A very heavy defeat but one that certainly does not cut Boattin and her teammates out of the rainbow review: to pass the first round, it will be enough not to lose to South Africa.

Photos of the nightmarish minutes of the Azzurre.