The training session was open to the press for the first 15 minutes and it began with a short talk from the coach. After the initial warm-up, the team moved on to the usual rondos in the centre circle with four youngsters from the Montpellier academy watching on. Cameras and reporters then had to leave so Antonio Conte could prepare the side in his meticulous manner for the third fixture on Wednesday 22nd June against the Republic of Ireland in Lille.
With qualification to the round of 16 as group winners already secured, the coach has already announced that he will give playing time to those who have featured less against Ireland. There will be some personnel changes but the team are keen to preserve their identity and finish the group with a perfect record as Zoff’s side did at Euro 2000 where they eventually lost at the death to France in the final.    Italy’s EURO 2016 schedule Monday 20th
10.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS
14.30 Media activity: Press conference – Casa Azzurri MC
Tuesday 21st
10.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS
afternoon Team transfer to Montpellier’s Airport’
15.30 Flight departure to Lille
17.15 Scheduled arrival to Lille, transfer to the stadium
18.30 Pitch inspection
19:00´Press conference with the coach and one player Wednesday 22nd
21.00 Match: Italy vs. Republic of Ireland
followed by post match Media activities – stadium and team to return to Montpellier Info For The Media
You are kindly reminded that:
§  Access to the Casa Azzurri Media Centre and to the training pitch in Grammont will be permitted from 30 minutes prior to the start of training exclusively to UEFA EURO 2016 accredited media staff. Any changes to the schedule and other logistical information for the media will be made available at figc.it, through the FIGC’s social media channels and on the UEFA MIS platform. ]]>

Yesterday’s rain and wind made way for the sun at the Azzurri’s morning training session at the Bernard Gasset centre. Antonio Conte had given the team yesterday afternoon and evening off but they were back under his instruction the next day. Gigi Buffon and Antonio Candreva were the only absentees. Buffon stayed in the hotel with a fever while Candreva did individual work as he looks to recover as soon as possible from the hamstring problem he picked up against Sweden.

The training session was open to the press for the first 15 minutes and it began with a short talk from the coach. After the initial warm-up, the team moved on to the usual rondos in the centre circle with four youngsters from the Montpellier academy watching on. Cameras and reporters then had to leave so Antonio Conte could prepare the side in his meticulous manner for the third fixture on Wednesday 22nd June against the Republic of Ireland in Lille.
With qualification to the round of 16 as group winners already secured, the coach has already announced that he will give playing time to those who have featured less against Ireland. There will be some personnel changes but the team are keen to preserve their identity and finish the group with a perfect record as Zoff’s side did at Euro 2000 where they eventually lost at the death to France in the final.

Italy’s EURO 2016 schedule

Monday 20th
10.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS
14.30 Media activity: Press conference – Casa Azzurri MC
Tuesday 21st
10.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS
afternoon Team transfer to Montpellier’s Airport’
15.30 Flight departure to Lille
17.15 Scheduled arrival to Lille, transfer to the stadium
18.30 Pitch inspection
19:00´Press conference with the coach and one player

Wednesday 22nd
21.00 Match: Italy vs. Republic of Ireland
followed by post match Media activities – stadium and team to return to Montpellier

Info For The Media
You are kindly reminded that:
§  Access to the Casa Azzurri Media Centre and to the training pitch in Grammont will be permitted from 30 minutes prior to the start of training exclusively to UEFA EURO 2016 accredited media staff. Any changes to the schedule and other logistical information for the media will be made available at figc.it, through the FIGC’s social media channels and on the UEFA MIS platform.

Photo:  figc.it

180 minutes of tracking back, covering and intelligent interventions have confirmed the value of a player like Marco Parolo at Euro 2016. The all-action midfielder has become a precious ace in Antonio Conte’s hand during the tournament. He repaid his coach’s faith against Belgium and Sweden with his only regret being that he narrowly missed out on his first international goal seven minutes before Eder scored the winner against Sweden and put Italy into the last 16: “I’ve licence to attack”, he said at the press conference, “the boss asks us midfielders to get in the box in order to create a numerical advantage. I’m putting myself near the goal. I hit the bar against Sweden and I hope that sooner or later I’ll get on the score sheet.”

Along with Emanuele Giaccherini, Parolo ran the joint-furthest of any Italy player during the first two games (12,570m vs. Belgium, 11,877 vs. Sweden). It’s to be expected from someone who comes from a family of cyclists and who, in his own words, has running in his blood: “I like my position.”, he confessed, “You often have to do unseen work which requires complete concentration. I’m enjoying these championships; we can feel a lot of excitement around us and this motivates us. We’re in a tournament that allows us to work really hard, the stadia are wonderful and my relatives were also excited to come here. You can see that people want to enjoy the football and forget about certain fears.”

Eight years ago, Parolo was still playing in the Lega Pro and dreaming of the day he would join the ranks of players like Steven Gerrard  and Marco Tardelli (“it’s a comparison that makes me proud, he could do everything”). Today, he’s one of Italy’s best midfielders but he has maintained the humility and the hunger that allowed a young player to emerge despite often seeming like the exact opposite of the modern footballing superstar: “I’m a reserved person,” he said, “and I don’t like being on social media. Going along unnoticed and giving the team a helping hand is better. I’ve often been criticised during my career only to then be appreciated later. The secret had been to always believe that I could raise my standard.”

Victories over Belgium and Sweden built up the squad’s confidence (“They were two difficult games, we approached them in the right manner and gave little away) and a third win over the Republic of Ireland could provide a further psychological boost: “Winning helps you to win,” he said as he repeated one of the coach’s slogans. “Finishing the group with nine points would be a sign of strength and character. We will approach the game in the right way, we want to take the three points. Compared to the past, the average standard of the tournament has increased. There are no more national teams which lie down and every team pays great attention to tactics. Almost all of the players here at Euro 2016 compete in the top leagues.”

The group’s togetherness has put individual ability into the background, but Italy aren’t lacking in talent. “If Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi had scored Eder’s goal then it would have been considered as one of the best at the European Championship, it would have made headlines. There are lots of players in our squad who can make a difference, perhaps the fact that we don’t identify ourselves around a single player is an advantage.”

Parolo repeated Antonio Conte’s call to the fans: “Against Belgium there were lots of people who cheered us on, even in the warm-up. The boss is right, it would really hit you to arrive at the stadium and see a sea of blue. We should be able to do that always and in every sport, you need passion and a sense of belonging. I too call on everyone to wear the blue shirt because like that you can understand that we are Italians and that we believe in what we are doing. We must attract the people with the enthusiasm and spirit that we are showing on the pitch.” This spirit also rears itself in the team’s group chat. “We have a group chat and we enjoy ourselves, Sirigu is the biggest joker out of everyone but there are some other jokers as well.”

Photo:  figc.it

Belgium’s 3-0 win over Ireland today in Bordeaux with a brace from Lukaku and one goal from Witsel means that it is mathematically certain that Italy will top Group E. The final match against the Republic of Ireland will therefore have no greater significance for Italy on Wednesday 22nd June in Lille. The Azzurri will play on Monday 27th June in the round of 16 in Saint-Denis against the side which finishes second in Group D. That group has seen Spain top it on six points ahead of Croatia ( four points), the Czech Republic (one point) and Turkey (zero points) after the opening two fixtures. Thousands of Azzurri fans are expected to fill the stands in Lille and Saint-Denis for the coming fixtures and coach

Antonio Conte has asked them to all wear blue to create a visual effect which can provide the side with further energy.
After yesterday’s win over Sweden paved the way for qualification to the round of 16 at Euro 2016, Italy were back in training this morning at the Bernard Gasset centre. Today’s sole session was carried out in cold and wet conditions. Training began with a short speech from Antonio Conte and the team were watched by children from local football schools in Montpellier. Antonio Candreva didn’t take part in training after picking up a hamstring problem at the end of the game with Sweden. He underwent tests to evaluate his condition and the medical staff will monitor his progress day by day.

The squad was divided in two with yesterday’s starters forming one group and unused players and substitutes forming the other. The first group had a light workout to help them recover with a few laps of the pitch and athletic exercises while the other group worked with the ball. The Azzurri then played a six-a-side. Marchetti, Ogbonna, Thiago Motta, Bernardeschi, El Shaarawy and Zaza were on one side in blue against Sirigu, Darmian, De Sciglio, Sturaro, Immobile and Insigne. The blue side won 5-4 with Thiago Motta scoring two, including the decisive goal and he was embraced by all his teammates. Salvatore Sirigu put in a starring performance as he made a number of spectacular saves. After the end of training, he was called over by the children from Montpellier’s youth system and he stopped to sign autographs and take photos.

The Azzurri have the afternoon off and at 17:00 CEST they could find out where they will be playing in the round of 16 before the final game against the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday 22nd June. Belgium will play Ireland at 15:00 CEST in Bordeaux and a win for the Red Devils or a draw would see Italy top the group, meaning the first knockout fixture will be on Monday 27th June at 18:00 CEST at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis versus the second-placed side from Group D.

Italy’s EURO 2016 schedule

Sunday 19th
10.30 Training session – OPEN TO MEDIA first 15’ –
14.30 Media activity: Press conference – Casa Azzurri MC

Monday 20th
10.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS
13.00 Media activity: Press conference – Casa Azzurri MC
16.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS
Tuesday 21st
10.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS
afternoon Team transfer to Montpellier’s Airport’
15.30 Flight departure to Lille
17.15 Scheduled arrival to Lille, transfer to the stadium
17.45 MD-1 Media activities: Press conference (Head coach/1 or 2 players) / HBs
18.30 MD-1 Official Training – OPEN TO MEDIA first 15’
Wednesday 22nd
21.00 Match: Italy vs Republic of Ireland
followed by post match Media activities – stadium and team to return to Montpellier

Info For The Media
You are kindly reminded that:
§  Access to the Casa Azzurri Media Centre and to the training pitch in Grammont will be permitted from 30 minutes prior to the start of training exclusively to UEFA EURO 2016 accredited media staff. Any changes to the schedule and other logistical information for the media will be made available at figc.it, through the FIGC’s social media channels and on the UEFA MIS platform.

Photo:  figc.it