Second place needs to be made secure in Group G and the current ranking of 17th has to be improved so that Italy can be in the best position possible ahead of the play-off draw on 17th October in Zurich. This is the dual aim for Italy ahead of the reaming qualifiers with FYR Macedonia on 6th October at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino in Turin at 20:45 and Albania at the Loro Borici Stadium in Shkoder at 20:45 CEST on 9th October.
Gian Piero Ventura has named 25 players in his Azzurri squad. They will arrive at Coverciano tomorrow evening. Simone Verdi is back after he made his debut against the Netherlands on 28th March.
Italy vs. FYR Macedonia – Italy are in Turin for the 37th time, one year since the 1-1 draw with Spain there in October although this time they are moving from the Juventus Stadium to the Stadio Olimpico – Grande Torino where the most recent result was a 2-0 win over Bulgaria in 2009. The capital of Piedmont will host a number of initiatives prior to the match organised by the FIGC and the local council as part of the Città Azzurra scheme. This aims to involve Italy fans, promote the positive values of sport and grassroots football. The team will also stay in Turin to prepare for the away trip to Shkodër and there will also be a training session at the Stadio Filadelfia where the legend of the Grande Torino was written.
Albania vs. Italy – The Azzurri’s final match wil be in Shkodër for a historic match. It’s the 800th Italy match in history and it will also be the first match played in Albania after two meetings in Italy in recent years. A familiar face for Italian football and the national team will be on the opposite side as Christian Panucci took over in July as Albania coach from Gianni De Biasi. It will be the 14th time that Italy have faced an opponent led by an Italian after Foni (Switzerland, two times), Trapattoni (Republic of Ireland, four times), Ghedin (Malta, four times), Zaccheroni, once) and De Biasi, twice). During his career, Panucci played for Italy 57 times, scored four goals and won two Under-21 European Championships.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Mattia Perin (Genoa);
Defenders: Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Milan), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Danilo D’Ambrosio (Inter), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Leonardo Spinazzola (Atalanta), Davide Zappacosta (Chelsea);
Midfielders: Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain);
Wingers: Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Antonio Candreva (Inter), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Simone Verdi (Bologna);
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Eder Citadin Martins (Inter), Manolo Gabbiadini (Southampton), Ciro Immobile (Lazio).
Source: figc.it
Italy Schedule
Sunday 1st October
Arrive at Coverciano before 24:00 CEST
Monday 2nd October
13:40 Presentation of new sponsor with coach’s press conference to follow
16:00 Training (First 15 minutes open to press.)
Tuesday 3rd October
13:45 Meeting with the press (players)
16:30 Training (First 15 minutes open to press.)
Wednesday 4th October
13:45 Meeting with press (Players)
16:30 Training (First 15 minutes open to press.)
Thursday 5th October
10:00 Training MD-1 (First 15 minutes open to press.)
16:20 Travel from Florence to Turin
17:45 Walk Around
18:00 Press conference with coach and one player Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino
FYR Macedonia’s MD-1 Schedule (Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino)
10:00 Training MD-1 at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino (First 15 minutes open to press.)
17:00 Press conference with coach and one player
Friday 6th October
20:45 ITALY vs. FYR MACEDONIA
Meetings with press afterwards
Saturday 7th October
17:00 Training at the Stadio Filadelfia (open to press)
Sunday 8th October
10:00 Training MD-at Sisport (First 15 minutes open)
15:45 Travel from Turin to Tirana
17:40 Flight lands in Tirana and transfer toLoro-Boriçi stadium in Shköder (Around 1h 30m)
19:30 Walk Around
20:00 Press conference with coach and one player at Loro-Borici Stadium
Monday 9th October
20:45 ALBANIA vs. ITALY
Meetings to follow and transfer to Tirana airport before flights to Milan and Rome.
By Anna Italia
