By Anna Italia
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Italian Soccer Serie A
The Italian National team continuing their afternoon training at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence on Tuesday 1 September 2020 behind closed doors. Italy Head Coach Roberto Mancini is preparing the team to conquer the victory in the next two UEFA Nations League game: The first game Italy vs Bosnia Herzegovina is scheduled Friday 4 September at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence at 20:45. The second game Netherlands vs Italy is on Monday 7 September at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam at 20:45.
The atmosphere with the Azzurri is highly positive. Among the most enthusiastic we could mention the three new called up for the first time: Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni, Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli, and Sassuolo forward Francesco Caputo. Bastoni, Locatelli, and Caputo expressed their pride to be with the Italian team during the press conference on Tuesday.
Photo: figc.it
Stats are positive for the Italian National team against Bosnia Herzegovina defeating them twice in the qualification of the EURO 2020: Italy 2 – 1 Bosnia in Turin and Italy 3- 0 Bosniain Zenica.
Sassuolo forward Francesco Caputo has received his first call-up at the age of 33, a well-earned reward for the 21 goals he scored in Serie A this season: “I’m chuffed to get this opportunity… I’m the happiest man in the world. You’ve got to keep pursuing your dreams, whatever you’re looking to achieve in life. In Italy there are lots of underrated young players, who need to be pushed to help our national side improve. I’ve been labelled as a typical striker ‘from the provinces’ for some time now, but it doesn’t bother me: it gives me strength to move forward with my career.”
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I am so happy for Caputo with this called up because, despite his 33 years old, has proven to be in great shape. Caputo was a key player for Sassuolo this season scoring 21 goals in the Serie A.
“In Italy there are lots of underrated young players, who need to be pushed to help our national side improve, said Caputo”
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#Azzurri 🇮🇹
📹 #Bastoni, #Locatelli and #Caputo reflect on being called up to the #Italy squad for the first time#NationsLeague #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/jTCI5KqM5Z
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) September 1, 2020
As reported by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Alessandro Bastoni had already completed a trial at Coverciano in February 2019 after a call-up from Roberto Mancini. Since then he has grown a lot as a player, so much so that he now features regularly for Inter. In the Europa League final, he was Inter’s best player and yesterday, Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini congratulated him on his rapid improvement: “Of course I’d like to thank Chiellini for those kind words, I often watched him play and it has really helped me grow as a player. And as for role models, I have to say I really like Bonucci, the way he defends and how he sets himself up on the pitch: I’ve studied loads of his and Giorgio’s performances.”
In addition to Bastoni, there are another five Inter players in the squad, which is testament to their success this season: “It’s been a great year. I’d like to thank Inter and Coach Conte for putting their trust in me. I did well to earn my place in the team game after game, but I don’t think there are many 20-year-olds who would be put into the team at a side as important as Inter.”
Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli, having earned a place in the Guardian’s “Next Generation 2015” list, which compiled the Top 50 talents born in 1998, on 22 October 2016 Locatelli was at the top of the world when he scored the winner for AC Milan against Juventus. But he has only truly blossomed during his time at Sassuolo, though Manuel has no regrets about how he ended his career with AC Milan. “Every step that I’ve taken has brought me to where I am now, to be the footballer that I am today. At Sassuolo, I’ve transformed as a player. Everyone dreams to wear this shirt, it’s a dream that I had since back when I was playing in my local parish. I want to play well and enjoy every single moment.
Photo: figc.it
👉 Italian National Squad List:
Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Cagliari), Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan), Alex Meret (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Torino);
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Cristiano Biraghi (Inter), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Mattia Caldara (Atalanta), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Danilo D’Ambrosio (Inter), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Luca Pellegrini (Juventus), Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma);
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Giacomo Bonaventura, Gaetano Castrovilli (Fiorentina), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho* (Chelsea), Roberto Gagliardini (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Stefano Sensi (Inter), Sandro Tonali* (Brescia), Nicolò Zaniolo (Roma);
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Francesco Caputo (Sassuolo), Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina), Stephan El Shaarawy (Shanghai Shenua), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Moise Kean (Everton), Kevin Lasagna (Udinese), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna).
*Suspended call-ups awaiting the outcome of medical tests once the players’ respective isolation requirements are complete.
👉 The Italian National Team schedule (all times CEST):
Saturday 29 August
The group to meet at the Coverciano Federal Training Centre by 23:30
Sunday 30 August
13:45 – Press conference with the Coach at the Coverciano Auditorium
17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)
Monday 31 August
13:45 – Press conference with a player at the Coverciano Auditorium
17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)
Tuesday 1 September
13:45 – Press conference with a player at the Coverciano Auditorium
17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)
Wednesday 2 September
13:45 – Press conference with a player at the Coverciano Auditorium
17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)
Thursday 3 September
17:00 – Italy’s press conference (Coach and one player) at the Stadio Franchi in Florence (location TBC)
17:30 – Italy’s training at the Stadio Franchi in Florence (open to the press for the first 15 minutes – location TBC)
18:30 – Bosnia & Herzegovina’s press conference (Coach and one player) at the Stadio Franchi in Florence
19:00 – Bosnia & Herzegovina’s training at the Stadio Franchi in Florence (open to the press for the first 15 minutes)
Friday 4 September
20:45 – Italy vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina (Stadio Franchi in Florence)
Followed by a press conference with the Coach
Saturday 5 September
10:00 – Training (behind closed doors)
17:30 – Transfer Florence to Venice
Sunday 6 September
10:45 – Transfer Venice to Amsterdam
11:00 – The Netherlands’ training at the KNVB Campus (open to the press for the first 15 minutes)
13:15 – The Netherlands’ press conference (Coach and one player) at the KNVB Campus
17:30 – Italy’s press conference (Coach and one player) at the Johan Cruijff ArenA
18:00 – Italy’s training at the Johan Cruijff ArenA (open to the press for the first 15 minutes)
Monday 7 September
20:45 – Netherlands vs. Italy (Johan Cruijff ArenA)
Followed by a press conference with the Coach and the squad’s return to Italy
By Anna Italia