The training match at the technical centre in Coverciano against Fiorentina’s Primavera side finished 6-0 to the Azzurri. El Shaarawy, Bonaventura, Zaza, Zappacosta all scored while Insigne netted a brace.
In the first of three 30 minute periods, Conte lined Italy up in a 3-5-2 formation with Buffon in goal while Bonucci, Chiellini and Barzagli played at the back. Darmian and Candreva were on the flanks with Florenzi and Giaccherini alongside Daniele De Rossi who was back in regular training with the squad after resting yesterday. Up front, the coach selected the duo of Pellè and Eder who both went close to scoring along with Darmian who hit the bar with an effort from 20 metres. In the second period of play Rugani, Ogbonna and Astori were given a chance in defence, with Jorginho in De Rossi’s place and Zaza on for Pellè. The first goal came from El Shaarawy with a strike from the middle of the area and over the course of four minutes the Azzurri would score two more with Bonaventura assisted by Zaza before the Juventus forward was himself set up by El Shaarawy. In the third and final period, apart from the appearances of Sirigu and Marchetti in goal for Fiorentina, Conte put Zappacosta, Benassi, Bernardeschi and Insigne in to play with the latter scoring two before Zappacosta made it six.
Following the morning training session, Salvatore Sirigu and Federico Marchetti were both present for a press conference as the two goalkeepers chosen along with a legend of world football in Gigi Buffon: “I hope to be ready for when I am called upon to help the cause,” said Sirigu. “When I have finished playing, I will think back a lot about my time with the Azzurri, it’s an honour to have written part of this team’s history along with Buffon. I am proud to have been part of a team that could count on a player as iconic as Gigi.”
The Paris Saint Germain goalkeeper has acclimatised well in France and he is convinced that the country is ready to host the European Championship. “From what I was able to see with the team, above all in the period after the attacks they adopted quite heavy security measures. France wants to show that it is strong, it wants to respond to those behind the attacks in November and January before that.”
Sirigu also hopes that there is space on the plane to France for his PSG teammate Thiago Motta. “I see him as a key player for his experience and for the work he does on the pitch. I don’t know specifically about how fit he is but from what I see he wants to make it and I hope he stays with us.”
“We are working with great intensity,” said Marchetti. “I always train at my hardest and that’s what counts. The coach knows very well what to do, the group is with him and we work enthusiastically.” The number one shirt belongs to Gigi Buffon but the Lazio goalkeeper knows that everyone must be ready to do their bit at a European Championship. “It’s an honour to be here, in every training match I have looked to demonstrate my value because various muscular injuries harmed me.”
A new addition to the group for this training camp, Alex Meret is one of the hopes for the future of Italian football and he has already shown great ability. “I am going through a wonderful experience, I haven’t found much playing time with Udinese but with the Italy Under-19 side I have put myself on show. Here at Coverciano, I can learn from my teammates. Buffon is my idol, I admire how he can transmit his personality to the rest of the group, the sense of security with him between the posts. I like how Marchetti attacks the ball, his ability in coming off his line while I appreciate Sirigu’s technique.”
The squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Federico Marchetti (Lazio), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain);
Defenders: Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Angelo Obinze Ogbonna (West Ham), Daniele Rugani (Juventus);
Wingers: Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Davide Zappacosta (Torino);
Midfielders: Marco Benassi (Torino), Giacomo Bonaventura (Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini (Bologna), Jorge Luiz Jorginho (Napoli), Riccardo Montolivo (Milan), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint Germain), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Stefano Sturaro (Juventus);
Forwards: Citadin Martins Eder (Inter), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Graziano Pellè (Southampton), Simone Zaza (Juventus).
Auxiliary goalkeeper: Alex Meret (Udinese)
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.
The full programme is as follows (all times in CEST)
Pre-European Championship training camp and ITALY vs. SCOTLAND friendly
Thursday, 26th May 2016
10:30 Training session (behind closed doors)
13:30 Press conference with FIAT
16:15 Press conference (players)
17:30 Practice match against the Fiorentina U19 side (open to journalists, but they will not be allowed to film or take photos)
Friday, 27th May 2016
10:30 Training session (behind closed doors)
13:30 Press conference (players)
16:30 Training session (open to media for the first 15’)
Saturday, 28th May 2016
10:30 Training session (behind closed doors)
16:25 Departure for Malta (flight Firenze-Malta)
18:25 Scheduled arrival in Malta and transfer to Westin Dragonara Hotel
19:00 Press conference at the Ta’ Qali Stadium (Italy head coach + one player)
Sunday, 29th May 2016
20:45 Friendly ITALY vs. SCOTLAND at the Ta’ Qali Stadium
Press conference and transfer to the airport following the game
00:50 Departure of charter flight to Roma/ Milano Malpensa
***
Pre-European Championship training camp and ITALY vs. FINLAND friendly
Tuesday, 31st May 2016 (Submission to UEFA of the EURO 2016 official 23-man squad within 24:00)
18:00 Meet up at the Parco dei Principi Hotel in Rome
20:30 RAI TV show ‘Sogno Azzurro”
22:30 Departure from Rome to Florence and transfer to Coverciano
Tuesday, 1st June 2016
10:00 Official squad photo with Scervino and Puma outfits (open only to photographers and TV operators)
followed by a training session behind closed doors
14:30 Press conference (players)
16:30 Training session (open to media for the first 15’)
Thurday, 2nd June 2016
10:30 Training session (behind closed doors)
13:30 Press conference (players)
16:30 Training session (open to media for the first 15’)
Friday, 3rd June 2016
10:30 Training session (behind closed doors)
13:30 Press conference (players)
16:30 Training session (open to media for the first 15’)
Saturday, 4th June 2016
09:30 Training session (behind closed doors)
13:30 Press conference (players)
16:30 Training session (open to media for the first 15’)
Sunday, 5th June 2016
10:30 Training session (behind closed doors)
16:00 Training session (behind closed doors)
18:03 Departure train from Florence to Verona Porta Nuova
20:10 Press conference at the Stadio Bentegodi (Italy head coach + one player)
Monday, 6th June 2016
20:45 Friendly ITALY vs. FINLAND at the Stadio Bentegodi
Press conference after the game
Wednesday, 8th June 2016
18:00 Meet up at the Malpensa Hotel
21:30 Departure of charter flight from Milano Malpensa to Montpellier
22:50 Scheduled arrival in Montpellier and transfer to Marriot Courtyard Hotel
By Anna Italia
Italy National Team Tickets 
