The Atalanta defender spoke to the press in the Media Centre at Coverciano after the practice match with the National Under-20 team.
“Even after the clear win, yesterday was a test of our ability, because Czech Republic are still a quality team”. The day after the stunning 4-0 victory against the Czechs, which gave Head Coach Mancini more positive signals in light of Italy’s first game at Uefa Euro 2020, Rafael Toloi met the press in the Media Centre at Coverciano, retracing the steps taken so far by the Azzurri and looking ahead towards the imminent start of the European Championship.
The Atalanta defender made this clear: “We’re ready to take on a competition of this magnitude. The excitement and passion that’s been created around the National Team is normal, because the team is playing well, we’re winning and convincing others what we’re made of. We’re doing well and we have to continue this way, getting on with it all with composure, and staying concentrated to reach the top goal.
If we’ve only conceded one goal in the last twelve games, it’s not just down to the defenders, but to the whole team to help each other. My role? Unlike what I do at my club, I’m comfortable in a four-man defence as a centre-back or right-back – I’m learning through training what the Coach wants and I’m here to contribute”.
This morning, the Azzurri who didn’t start in the match in Bologna took on Alberto Bollini’s National Under-20 team in a practice match. The game took place on the Enzo Bearzot pitch at Coverciano and some players from the first team strengthened the ranks of the Azzurrini: Sirigu, Toloi and Raspadori played the first of two 20-minute halves with the Under-20 squad, while in the second half Meret, Emerson and Chiesa supported Bollini’s team.
Only a little more than twelve hours after the friendly against the Czech Republic, the practice match was mostly going through the motions. It was, however, resolved with a Cangiano strike in the tenth minute of the first half: the Azzurrino – who this year wore the Ascoli shirt – fired a great left-footed shot from the edge of the area, overcoming Meret with a perfect shot into the bottom of the net.
“It was an honour to be able to face Mancini’s Azzurri,” Bollini said after the match. The Under-20 Coach continued by saying that “the senior national team is pleasing the fans and from what we’ve seen the situation’s looking good”.
Bollini then spoke about his Azzurrini, who will face the San Marino National Team for a friendly tomorrow: “We had four days of good and intense training in Tirrenia. The work of Club Italia, set up by Maurizio Viscidi, for the youth national teams works so well because of great connection between the various age groups and the goal is to progress players up to the senior National Team”.
Itinerary (all times CEST)
Sunday 6 June
Before 22:00 meeting at the Coverciano Federal Technical Centre
Monday 7 June
**14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)
Tuesday 8 June
**14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)
Wednesday 9 June
**14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)
Thursday 10 June
11:00 – Transfer Florence-Rome
**17.45 – Press conference with Head Coach + 1 player at the Olympic Stadium in Rome
*18.30 – Training at the Olympic Stadium in Rome (open to the media for the first 15′)
Friday 11 June
*11:00- Training at the C.S. ‘Giulio Onesti’ (closed)
21:00 – Italy-Turkey at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. Press conference/media duties after full-time and transfer to the Coverciano’s CTF
Saturday 12 June
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)
Sunday 13 June
**14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)
Monday 14 June
**14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)
Tuesday 15 June
11:00 – Transfer Florence-Rome
**16:45 – Press conference with coach + 1 player at the Hotel Parco dei Principi
*19.15 – Training at the C.S. ‘Giulio Onesti’ (open to the media for the first 15′)
Wednesday 16 June
21:00 – Italy vs. Switzerland at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Press conference/media duties after full-time and transfer to the Coverciano’s CTF
Thursday 17 June
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)
Friday 18 June
**14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)
Saturday 19 June
11:00 – Transfer Florence-Rome
**17.15 – Press conference with coach + 1 player at the Hotel Parco dei Principi
*18.30 – Training at the C.S. ‘Giulio Onesti’.
Sunday 20 June
18:00 – Italy vs Wales at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. Press conference/media duties after full-time and transfer to the Coverciano’s CTF
N.B. Timetables are subject to possible change
* photos will be taken and shared by FIGC
**media access will be limited to reduced numbers
Source: figc.it
By Anna Italia
