Cristiana Girelli secures victory for Italy in World Cup opener

In a hard-fought Group G match, Girelli's late header sealed a 1-0 victory, stretching Italy's unbeaten streak to an impressive five games.

At the outset, Argentina came close to surprising Italy as Mariana Larroquette's acrobatic attempt narrowly missed the mark. The Italians heeded the warning and soon found their rhythm, threatening to take the lead in the 15th minute. Arianna Caruso's exquisite strike seemed destined for the bottom right-hand corner, but an offside flag denied them the opener.

The 42nd minute brought a sense of deja vu for Milena Bertolini's team, as yet another assistant referee intervention disallowed Valentina Giacinti's goal. The opening 45 minutes ended with both teams failing to break the deadlock, marking the 20th consecutive Argentina game without a first-half goal against them.

After the break, Argentina maintained their resilience, showing glimpses of their capability to upset the Italians. Francesca Durante had to make an exceptional save to keep Eliana Stabile's free-kick at bay. Despite their previous struggles against European teams, Argentina impressively held their own against Italy, who entered the match on a four-game unbeaten streak.

However, in the 87th minute, Girelli, brought on as a substitute, made her presence felt. Rising above the opposition, she expertly headed the ball past the helpless Vanina Correa, securing Italy's victory. Girelli's decisive impact earned her side the crucial three points.

With a triumphant start in Group G, Italy, led by the oldest player in their squad, have their sights firmly set on the knockout stages. The team's unbeaten run and Girelli's match-winning header have set a promising tone for the rest of their FIFA Women's World Cup campaign.