Argentina gears up for 2023 Women's World Cup with inspiration from Lionel Messi

Seven months ago, the entire nation of Argentina was celebrating their first men’s football World Cup title in 36 years.

"To be honest, I cried. I cried a lot," said Vanina Correa, the goalkeeper of Argentina's women's team, according to BBC Sport.

This month, Correa hopes to make her country proud once again as she follows in the footsteps of Messi and captains Argentina at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The expectations for the women's team are not as high as for the men's team. La Albiceleste has competed in three previous World Cups but has yet to win a match. In 2003 and 2007, they failed to earn a single point in the group stage, and they suffered a staggering 11-0 loss to Germany in their opening game 16 years ago.

Low expectations

At the World Cup in France in 2019, Argentina clearly made progress and claimed their first points at a World Cup after drawing with Japan and Scotland, finishing third in the group.

However, their aim is not to repeat what the men did last year in Qatar by lifting the World Cup trophy this summer.

''It is a big inspiration, but the expectation is not the same," 20-year-old forward Paulina Gramaglia said.

"We don't have the same foundation that they have, we are not seeking to win the trophy. We have our own goals and our own context."

The Argentina women’s team has many stories within the team. Miriam Mayorga, nicknamed ‘Doc’ by her teammates, is a qualified doctor. Goalkeeper Correa is about to represent Argentina for the fourth time at a World Cup, just one month short of her 40^th birthday. She retired in 2012 after giving birth to twins but was persuaded to make a comeback to the national team in 2017.

The Argentina squad is now coached by Germán Portanova, who was appointed as the new head coach in 2021. After ending his football career, he worked at a shoe factory.

"A friend of mine had a factory, customers, the whole lot. It went well, but I wasn't happy. I'm quite religious, and I think God was preparing me for this moment,” Portanova has said.

Argentina will face Italy, South Africa and Sweden in the group stage, and Portanova is hoping that the team can surprise and advance.

“I think that if we are united on the field, we are going to make history," said the head coach according to El Grafico.

La Albiceleste will play Italy in their first match at the World Cup on 24 July. The Women’s World Cup runs from 20 July to 20 August.

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