Soccer Monday: Cantore brings a bit of Italy to the Spirit

Afterward, the Ballon d’Or nominee joked that she didn’t celebrate because she was tired.

Cantore became the first Italian player to join the league when she was signed by the Spirit on June 17. Her signing was all the more intriguing because of Italy’s run in the European Championships — and Cantore’s role in the team’s success.

Playing Norway in the quarterfinals, Cantore fed a cross to Cristiana Girelli, who scored in stoppage time to give Italy a 2-1 victory and send the team to its first Euros semifinal since 1997. Cantore also fed Girelli the first goal of the match.

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While Italy fell in the semifinals 2-1 to England in extra time, the success at the Euros showed the progress national team has made in a relatively short time. The Italians were knocked out in the group stage at both the 2022 Euros and the 2023 Women’s World Cup before coach Andrea Soncin took over.

The Euros squad won fans as the spirited underdogs, adopting the song “Unwritten” as their anthem.

Cantore brings some of that Italian flair to the Spirit. The 25-year-old came to the NWSL from Juventus, where she scored 11 goals with six assists last season.

She spoke to reporters a bit about why she came to the NWSL and what her adjustment to the league has been like.

“It was like an option in my career to do this kind of experience, because I wanted to challenge myself in this league. And I was really happy when I had the first talk with Washington Spirit, because I had a good feeling about this club, so I decided to come here and to join this club and this league because, as I said, I want to challenge myself, and I want to to to learn more about myself on the pitch and out of the pitch.”

USA Today reporter Jason Anderson asked Cantore how she was getting acclimated to life in the United States.

“I think I’m the kind of person that is adapting good in different situations. So I like it here. I like where we live. I like the environment that I found. Of course, it’s a different culture from Italy, and maybe I have to understand more things, but like in those two weeks, I found a great environment, as I said, and I’m happy, so I will see what the future will will teach me.”

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She was also asked how she’s adjusting to the Spirit’s style of play following the scoreless draw with Gotham.

“I mean, the intensity is very high, so I’m kind of trying to understand what the coach is asking me, and also, what are the features of my teammates, like about technical stuff, something like if some midfielders love to pass me the ball in the space or on the feet, these kind of of things. So I’m trying to do my best to fit in the right way on the pitch.”

And finally, she addressed how she was bonding with the team.

“I received our warm welcome from the girls and the people on the staff, so I’m here to join this team, and I found good energy and good vibes. Also on the pitch they are always positive. And I think it’s the right environment when I can grow and where we can grow up together as a team.”

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