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Di Biagio will be without Federico Di Francesco for this fixture against the Danes, who they previously lost to 1-0 during a friendly in Matera two years ago. The player has been forced to withdraw from the training camp due to a muscular injury; picking up his knock shortly after he scored Italy’s second goal against England. Prior to this, Andrea Conti bagged an equaliser after some fine wing-play at the St Mary’s stadium, whilst he has also been enjoying a great start to the season with Atalanta: “I am certainly feeling positive ahead of the game against Denmark,” said the defender. “Thursday’s defeat still stings because we put in a decent performance. On a personal level, I am happy to have scored, although the entire team is still disappointed with how the game finished. We are now focused on Denmark, they are a great team and they did well in a very tough qualifying group. As always, we will play to win.”
 
Conti is just one of the four Atalanta players who now remain in the Under-21 squad, after Roberto Gagliardini was recently selected for the senior side. Interestingly, Monday will see the city of Bergamo host the Azzurrini for the first time in 30 years: “It will be an amazing experience and I can’t wait,” he added. “It will be a great source of pride for me as I appear in the stadium where I play my club football.”
 
Squad list
Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Benevento), Pierluigi Gollini (Aston Villa);
Defenders: Antonio Barreca (Torino), Davide Biraschi (Genoa), Mattia Caldara (Atalanta), Andrea Conti (Atalanta), Alex Ferrari (Bologna), Adam Masina (Bologna), Michele Somma (Brescia), Davide Vitturini (Pescara);
Midfielders: Marco Benassi (Torino), Leonardo Capezzi (Crotone), Bryan Cristante (Pescara), Alberto Grassi (Atalanta), Luca Mazzitelli (Sassuolo), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Sassuolo);
Forwards: Alberto Cerri (Spal), Luca Garritano (Cesena), Vittorio Parigini (Chievo Verona), Andrea Petagna (Atalanta), Federico Ricci (Sassuolo), Valerio Lorenzo Rosseti (Lugano). Staff – Delegation Head: Giancarlo Antognoni; Accompanying Director: Vincenzo Marinelli; Head Coach: Luigi Di Biagio; Assitant Coach: Carmine Nunziata; Secretary: Emiliano Cozzi; Goalkeeping Coach: Antonio Chimenti; Fitness Coach: Vito Azzone; Doctors: Angelo De Carli and Luca Gatteschi; Phsyiotherapists: Enzo Paolini and Maurizio Fagorzi; Equipment Manager:Claudio Gagliardi.
 
Schedule (All times CET unless stated)
Sunday 13th November
13:00 Meeting with the press at the Hotel Winter Garden  (coach)
15:30 Training at the Bortolotti sports centre in Zingonia  (closed)
 
Monday 14th November
18:30 ITALY vs.  Denmark at the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia – Bergamo. The players and staff will return to their usual bases after all media duties are over ]]>

 
Squad List
Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Benevento), Pierluigi Gollini (Aston Villa),
Defenders: Antonio Barreca (Torino), Davide Biraschi (Genoa), Mattia Caldara (Atalanta), Andrea Conti (Atalanta), Alex Ferrari (Bologna), Adam Masina (Bologna), Michele Somma (Brescia), Davide Vitturini (Pescara);
Midfielders: Marco Benassi (Torino), Leonardo Capezzi (Crotone), Bryan Cristante (Pescara), Alberto Grassi (Atalanta), Luca Mazzitelli (Sassuolo), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Sassuolo);
Forwards: Alberto Cerri (Spal), Federico Di Francesco (Bologna), Luca Garritano (Cesena), Vittorio Parigini (Chievo Verona), Andrea Petagna (Atalanta), Federico Ricci (Sassuolo), Valerio Lorenzo Rosseti (Lugano).
Staff – Delegation Head: Giancarlo Antognoni; Accompanying Director: Vincenzo Marinelli; Head Coach: Luigi Di Biagio; Assitant Coach: Carmine Nunziata; Secretary: Emiliano Cozzi; Goalkeeping Coach: Antonio Chimenti; Fitness Coach: Vito Azzone; Doctors: Angelo De Carli and Luca Gatteschi; Phsyiotherapists: Enzo Paolini and Maurizio Fagorzi; Equipment Manager: Claudio Gagliardi. Schedule (All times CET unless stated) Friday 11th November
10:00 Training at the Staplewood Centre (closed)
20:00 Flight from London to Milan Linate followed by transfer to the Hotel “Winter Garden” in Grassobbio (BG) Saturday 12th November
15:30 Training at the sports centre Azzano San Paolo (open to the public) Sunday 13th November
13:00 Meeting with the press at the Hotel Winter Garden  (coach)
15:30 Training at the Bortolotti sports centre in Zingonia  (closed) Monday 14th November
18:30 ITALY vs.  Denmark at the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia – Bergamo. The players and staff will return to their usual bases after all media duties are over. ]]>

 
Following a minute of silence (with the players also wearing black armbands) observed in memory of victims from the First World War, the game soon began in startling fashion. England in particular enjoyed a positive start, as both a header and a cross came close to breaking the deadlock. However, this instant pressure soon paid dividends, as the hosts took an early lead in the sixth minute thanks to Demarai Gray, who capitalised on the Azzurrini’s slack defending and fired the ball into the back of the net.
 
This premature blow did startle the visitors, although they soon began to grasp a foothold in the game and levelled the scoring in the 13th minute. Their equalising goal came after some good work on the right-flank by Andrea Conti, whose cross then deflected fortunately off the leg of Galloway and looped its way into the back of the net. This resurgence did not stop there, as the buoyed Azzurrini then took the lead in the 29th minute, when a well-worked corner was dispatched by Di Francesco. The 21-year-old capitalised on a flick-on from Petagna and scored easily.  This completed Italy’s fightback as they took a 2-1 lead at the St Mary’s stadium. Unfortunately, he was soon forced to leave the field in the 43rd minute due to injury and was replaced by Parigini.
 
Following the interval, Di Biagio changed some players, although the U21s maintained a positive rhythm. This did not stop England pushing forward however, as they struck the woodwork twice, whilst Baker then scored to make it 2-2.
 
Despite the high tempo of the game, both teams continued to attack. The 11,000 spectators were served up an extremely entertaining encounter, as neither opted to sit back or relax simply due to the fixture’s friendly nature. Following the late arrival of debutant Capezzi, England’s physical superiority soon prevailed, as Stephens snatched the winning goal in injury time, helping his team secure a dramatic 3-2 win. Italy will now take part in another tough test against Denmark in Bergamo on Monday.
 
It was an underserved defeat for the Azzurrini, although Di Biagio did not complain: “The result leaves us with a slight sense of regret,” he admitted. “But these type of games are important for the players as it makes them realise what is needed to play at the highest level. I liked the team’s desire and determination, even if we should have been more ruthless in the final 30 metres. They have come out on top and perhaps shown that they have something more than us, but that’s okay. I have experimented with new players and I have tried some formations that could be useful in the future.”
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In addition to the satisfaction of qualifying for the Final Phase of the European Championship, he also revealed his delight at the number of Azzurrini who have recently been selected by Gian Piero Ventura. The latest players to enter Coverciano were Danilo Cataldi and Roberto Gagliardini: “To see this many youth players in the senior team gives me a great sense of pride,” the coach added. “It is fair to say that up until a year ago not many of them were playing for their own clubs. Italian football can take optimism from the confidence that has been placed in younger players from lots of clubs.” Squad List
Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Benevento), Pierluigi Gollini (Aston Villa),
Defenders: Antonio Barreca (Torino), Davide Biraschi (Genoa), Mattia Caldara (Atalanta), Andrea Conti (Atalanta), Alex Ferrari (Bologna), Adam Masina (Bologna), Michele Somma (Brescia), Davide Vitturini (Pescara);
Midfielders: Marco Benassi (Torino), Leonardo Capezzi (Crotone), Bryan Cristante (Pescara), Alberto Grassi (Atalanta), Luca Mazzitelli (Sassuolo), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Sassuolo);
Forwards: Alberto Cerri (Spal), Federico Di Francesco (Bologna), Luca Garritano (Cesena), Vittorio Parigini (Chievo Verona), Andrea Petagna (Atalanta), Federico Ricci (Sassuolo), Valerio Lorenzo Rosseti (Lugano).
Staff – Delegation Head: Giancarlo Antognoni; Accompanying Director: Vincenzo Marinelli; Head Coach: Luigi Di Biagio; Assitant Coach: Carmine Nunziata; Secretary: Emiliano Cozzi; Goalkeeping Coach: Antonio Chimenti; Fitness Coach: Vito Azzone; Doctors: Angelo De Carli and Luca Gatteschi; Phsyiotherapists: Enzo Paolini and Maurizio Fagorzi; Equipment Manager: Claudio Gagliardi. Schedule (All times CET unless stated) Wednesday 9th  November
13:00 Meeting with the press at the Hotel Hilton  (Coach)
15:30 Training at the Staplewood Centre (closed) Thursday 10th November
10:30 Training at the Staplewood Centre (closed)
19:45 (local time)  England vs. Italy at St. Mary’s Stadium – Southampton. Meeting with the press to follow, Friday 11th November
10:00 Training at the Staplewood Centre (closed)
20:00 Flight from London to Milan Linate followed by transfer to the Hotel “Winter Garden” in Grassobbio (BG) Saturday 12th November
15:30 Training at the sports centre Azzano San Paolo (open to the public) Sunday 13th November
13:00 Meeting with the press at the Hotel Winter Garden  (coach)
15:30 Training at the Bortolotti sports centre in Zingonia  (closed) Monday 14th November
18:30 ITALY vs.  Denmark at the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia – Bergamo. The players and staff will return to their usual bases after all media duties are over. ]]>