Sara Gama, a name synonymous with the recent history of Italian women`s football, transitioning from a distinguished playing career, including captaining the national side, to offering her insights from the commentator`s booth for Rai, has provided a pragmatic assessment of the Azzurre`s campaign at Euro 2025. Her perspective, rooted in deep experience, offers a valuable counterpoint to external hype.
Reflecting on the opening fixtures, Gama notes a candid acknowledgement, even within the squad itself, that the team has yet to “express itself at its best.” This is a technical observation rather than a harsh critique. Despite this self-awareness regarding performance peaks, she is clear that the overall start to the tournament has been positive, leading her to deliver a “very good” overall judgment on the team`s position and initial results.
The focus, naturally, shifts to the immediate challenge: a decisive fixture against Spain. Gama describes this match as a “do or die” situation – a stark and accurate portrayal of its significance. Qualification for the quarter-finals hinges on this game, a stage Italy has not reached for 12 years. That historical gap serves as a silent, yet heavy, backdrop to the current campaign.
Facing the reigning World Champions demands a particular approach. Gama advises against striving for footballing perfection or simply attempting to play their “best” game in an abstract sense. Instead, the emphasis must be on absolute presence in the moment. Her definition of “aggression” in this context is particularly insightful, steering clear of reckless abandon. For Gama, it means “lucidity in managing the ball,” maintaining tactical “balance,” and critically, remaining “calm.” It`s a technical discipline under pressure, rather than brute force.
Within the team environment, Gama senses a strong collective will. Her former teammates, she notes, “feel the responsibility of the moment” and harbour a genuine desire “to show they can go beyond the group stage.” This ambition aligns with what she identifies as the team`s trajectory of “constant growth” in recent years.
So, can they achieve it? Gama believes “it can be done.” However, she couples this belief with a crucial message directed towards the wider public and media observing from outside the immediate footballing environment. “Out of the environment,” she stresses, the essential truth that “nothing is for granted” must be continually remembered. The 12-year wait for a quarter-final appearance isn`t just a statistic; it`s a tangible demonstration of how challenging progress at this level can be. The potential is certainly present within the squad, but unlocking it against a formidable opponent requires a blend of tactical intelligence, mental fortitude, and a grounded acceptance that success is earned, not given.