By Anna Italia
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Italy Head Coach Gian Piero Ventura has called up 26 players for the FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Spain on Thursday 6 October 2016 at the Juventus Stadium in Turin, Italy  and FYR Macedonia on Sunday 9 October at the National Arena Philip II in Skopje. Among the news are the return of  Genoa’s goalkeeper Mattia Perin, Zenit defender Domenico Criscito, Manchester United’s Matteo Darmian and Villarreal forward Nicola Sansone.

The Italian team arriving on Sunday 2nd October at Coverciano.  The first training session will be held on Monday.  As reported by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Tthe team will leave for Turin on Wednesday 5th October before they play Spain the next day just over three months since their last meeting with La Furia Roja at the Round of 16 in Euro 2016.

On Friday 7th and Saturday 8th October, Italy will train at the Vinovo Sports Centre where Juventus train before traveling to Skopje on Saturday a day before the fixture with FYR Macedonia.

• The Italian National Team will play in Turin for the 36th time in 96 years and for the third consecutive match in the city at the Juventus Stadium where they are unbeaten. In previous matches with Spain, Italy are slightly ahead in the records thanks to the 2-0 win at Euro 2016. The Azzurri have won eleven, there have been 14 draws and Spain have won ten. 31,000 tickets have already been sold for this match.

• Turin is preparing to welcome the side with a full programme of events as part of the Torino Città Azzurra initiative promoted by the FIGC and local council. The scheme has the objective of confirming the positive values of sport and promoting grassroots football. As part of the scheme, the Mole Antonelliana will light up in blue.

• From Tuesday, the four World Cups and one European Championship won by Italy will on display at the Sala Marmi at the Palazzo Civico. The FIGC will also make a contribution to the Piedmont Foundation for Cancer Research to renew a collaboration which was seen in 2015 with Italy vs. England. The World Cup trophies will be displayed at the Istituto Oncologico di Candiolo.

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Italy Squad and Staff list – 26-man called up for Spain and Macedonia
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Mattia Perin (Genoa);

Defenders: Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Angelo Obinze Ogbonna (West Ham), Alessio Romagnoli (Milan);

Midfielders: Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Giacomo Bonaventura (Milan), Antonio Candreva (Inter), Domenico Criscito (Zenit S. Pietroburgo), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (Milan), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain);

Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Eder Citadin Martins (Inter), Manolo Gabbiadini (Napoli), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Graziano Pellè (Shandong Luneng), Nicola Sansone (Villareal).

Italy Team Staff – Head coach: Gian Piero Ventura; Team Manager: Gabriele Oriali;  Coaches: Salvatore Sullo, Paolo Vanoli and Gianluca Spinelli; Secretary: Mauro Vladovich; Fitness coaches: Alessandro Innocenti and Giovanni Brignardello; Doctors: Enrico Castellacci and Carmine Costabile; Physiotherapists: Fabrizio Scalzi, Emanuele Randelli, Alfonso Casano and Pasquale Raia.

Photo:   figc.it

Italy schedule (All times CEST)

Sunday 2nd October
Meet at Coverciano after league fixtures

Monday 3rd October     
11.00 Training (closed doors)
13.00 Media can enter
13.30 Ventura’s press conference
16.30 Training (Open to the press for the first 20 minutes)

Tuesday 4th October
10.30 Training (closed)
13.00 Media can enter
13.30 Presentation of new Italy partner
13.45 Meeting with the press (players)
16.30 Training (Open to the media for the first 20 minutes)

Wednesday 5th October (MD-1)
9.30 Media can enter
10.00 Training (open to the press for the first 20)
17.00 Flight leaves from Florence to Turin
18.00 Arrival in Turin
18.15 Inspection at Juventus Stadium
18.30 Press conference (coach and one player)

Spain programme (Juventus Stadium)
19.00 Press conference (coach and one player)
19.30 Training (Open to the press for the first 15 minutes)

Thursday 6th October (Matchday) 
20.45 ITALY vs. Spain, Juventus Stadium
Players will meet the press after and return to the hotel

Friday 7th October
11.30 Training at Vinovo (Open to accredited media for the first 20 minutes)

Saturday 8th October (MD-1)
10.30 Training at Vinovo (Open to the press for the first 15 minutes)
16.45 Flight leaves Turin for Skopje
18.45 Flight arrives in Skopje
19.15 Inspect the Arena Phillip II
19.30 Press conference (Coach and one player)

FYR MACEDONIA schedule (Arena Phillip II)
17.00 Press conference (Coach and one player)
17.45 Training (Open to the press for the first 15 minutes)

Sunday 9th October (Matchday)    
20.45 FYR MACEDONIA  vs. ITALY, Arena Philip II
Meetings with the press and return to the hotel after

Monday 10th October
9.30 Flight leaves Skopje for Milan Malpensa
11.45 Arrive at Milan Malpensa
12.35 Flight leaves for Rome Fiumicino
13.50 Arrive at Rome Fiumicino