There are no lucrative sponsorship deals for women’s players in Argentina, while forward Estefania Banini – regarded as the Messi of the women’s team, external – has played much of her club football away in Spain.
The squad assembled by Portanova to get Argentina through the group stage is full of stories.
There is defender Miriam Mayorga, who is nicknamed ‘Doc’ by her team-mates as she is a qualified doctor.
Correa, who is appearing at her fourth World Cup, quit the game in 2012 and gave birth to twins before going from “being retired in every sense of the word” to playing in the 2019 World Cup in France.
With her 40th birthday approaching next month, she is one of the oldest players at this World Cup.
Portanova, a former midfielder, worked at a shoe factory following the end of his playing career before starting as a coach.
“A friend of mine had a factory, customers, the whole lot,” says the Argentine. “It went well, but I wasn’t happy.”
Speaking about his appointment as national women’s team boss in 2021, he said: “I’m quite religious and I think God was preparing me for this moment.”
Argentina is the nation that gave the tango to the world, but will they be dancing on the streets of Buenos Aires if they win a first match at the Women’s World Cup?
“I don’t think the men’s success at the World Cup has put pressure on the women because they know that they have never won a match at this tournament,” says Lichinizer.
“To win a first Women’s World Cup match, that would be the best.
“That would make the fans excited about the tournament and would tell them the women’s team is also our national team and they represent us the same as the men do.”