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.
Official squad and shirt numbers
Goalkeepers: 1 Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), 13 Federico Marchetti (Lazio), 12 Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain);
Defenders: 15 Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), 19 Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), 3 Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), 5 Angelo Obinze Ogbonna (West Ham);
Wingers: 21 Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), 6 Antonio Candreva (Lazio), 4 Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), 2 Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), 22 Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma);
Midfielders: 16 Daniele De Rossi (Roma), 8 Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), 23 Emanuele Giaccherini (Bologna),10 Thiago Motta (Paris Saint Germain), 18 Marco Parolo (Lazio), 14 Stefano Sturaro (Juventus);
Forwards: 17 Citadin Martins Eder (Inter), 11 Ciro Immobile (Torino), 20 Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), 9 Graziano Pellè (Southampton), 7 Simone Zaza (Juventus).
*Players on stand-by: Marco Benassi (Torino), Alex Meret (Udinese), Daniele Rugani (Juventus) and Davide Zappacosta (Torino)
Staff – Head coach: Antonio Conte; team manager: Gabriele Oriali; secretary: Mauro Vladovich; assistant coaches: Angelo Alessio, Massimo Carrera, Gianluca Spinelli, Gianluca Conte and Mauro Sandreani; fitness coaches: Costantino Coratti and Paolo Bertelli; federal doctors: Enrico Castellacci and Luca Gatteschi; physiotherapists: Aldo Esposito, Alessandro Donato, Takahiro Yamamoto and Pasquale Raia.
Italy’s EURO 2016 schedule
Sunday 19th
10.30 Training session – OPEN TO MEDIA first 15’ –
13.00 Media activity: Press conference – Casa Azzurri MC
16.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS
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.
Source: figc.it
