Giuffrida’s Italy dare to dream ahead of Dakar

As he prepares to lead Italy’s women’s futsal national team at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Sebastiano Giuffrida is savouring the occasion. “We know that what we’re experiencing now, and what lies ahead of us, is a dream,” he told FIFA.

Le Azzurrine will be chasing a medal in Dakar from 1 to 11 November, fully aware of the pride and responsibility that come with representing their country on the Olympic stage. For Giuffrida, though, the occasion is about much more than results alone.

“Representing Italy comes with enormous responsibility, but also immense pride and a strong sense of belonging,” explained Giuffrida. “As I always tell the girls, every time we pull on this shirt, we know we’re representing an entire country and its history. Dakar is a dream come true because it will be the first time an Italian futsal national team has competed at the Youth Olympic Games. It’s fantastic for Italian futsal.”

Italy’s youngsters have been working hard in preparation for the tournament. “We’re working to ensure we arrive in Dakar fully prepared, both technically and tactically, while placing particular emphasis on the mental side of the game,” Giuffrida noted.

The Italy coach also highlighted how Le Azzurrine could draw inspiration from the senior side’s FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup™ campaign in the Philippines in 2025.

“We’re about to take part in something truly special, and I believe it will be an invaluable experience for these young players,” said Giuffrida. “I can draw on my own experience at the World Cup, which taught me so much personally and gave me the opportunity to encounter different cultures and ways of working.

“An Olympic experience can also play a crucial role in their development, exposing them to environments and situations far removed from what they’re used to. It can help them become more independent, responsible and self-aware, while giving them values and experiences that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”

Italy will kick off their Group B campaign against Cameroon on 1 November, before taking on Costa Rica two days later and rounding off the group stage against IR Iran on 5 November.

“I expect each match to present a different challenge, with every opponent having their own strengths and style of play,” he said. “We’ll need to adapt quickly while staying true to our identity. It will be a tough group, but as I always say, we want to approach every match with courage, respect our opponents and believe in our chances. That’s what I want from this team.”

Italy have plenty of promising young players, and the tournament in Dakar will give each of them a chance to shine on the international stage.

“I believe every player who has made it this far has something important to offer,” said Giuffrida. “The hardest part has been knowing that I can’t take them all to Dakar. That was incredibly difficult for me. But I’m convinced that all ten players travelling to Dakar have enormous potential. They each bring different qualities to the team, and some – including Ilenia Moro and Sharon Gallus – have already made their Serie A debuts. I have great faith in this group. Our time together in Aosta was hugely rewarding, and I told the players how impressed I was by their competitive spirit and togetherness.”

Finally, the tactician was asked about his ambitions for Le Azzurrine and what would make their campaign in Dakar a success.

“Given how young this group is, we want this experience to be an important step in the players’ development. I want us to play with courage, show a clear identity and represent Italy in the best possible way. I’ve been following these girls for a long time, and I have high expectations of them. I want us to go as far as we can. When you’re living a dream, you have to give it everything you’ve got. Coming home with a medal would make us very happy,” Giuffrida concluded.