Under-21 National Team’s full schedule Tuesday 20th June
10.30 Visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps
17:00 Press conference at the Tychy Stadium
18:00 MD-1 training session at the Tychy Stadium Wednesday 21st June
18:00 CZECH REPUBLIC vs. ITALY  Tychy Stadium post-match press conferences to follow after the match Thursday 22nd June
11:00 training at TG Wisla Krakow (closed door)
13:30 meeting the media (player) Friday 23rd June
17:30 press conference at the Krakow Stadium
18:00 MD-1 training session at the Krakow Stadium ]]>

Italy Squad  Goalkeepers: 17 Alessio Cragno (Benevento); 1 Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan); 19 Simone Scuffet (Udinese);
Defenders: 3 Antonio Barreca (Torino); 14 Davide Biraschi (Genoa); 2 Davide Calabria (Milan);
13 Mattia Caldara (Atalanta); 12 Andrea Conti (Atalanta); 22 Alex Ferrari (Verona); 23 Pezzella (Palermo); 4 Daniele Rugani (Juventus);
Midfielders: 15 Marco Benassi (Torino); 5 Danilo Cataldi (Genoa); 18 Roberto Gagliardini (Inter); 8 Alberto Grassi (Atalanta); 21 Manuel Locatelli (Milan); 6 Lorenzo Pellegrini (Sassuolo);
Forwards: 7 Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo); 10 Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina); 9 Alberto Cerri (Pescara); 20 Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina);16 Luca Garritano (Cesena); 11 Andrea Petagna (Atalanta).
 
Staff: Delegation Head: Gabriele Oriali; Coach: Luigi Di Biagio; Assistant Coach: Carmine Nunziata; Assistant Coach: Daniele Franceschini; Secretary: Emiliano Cozzi; Goalkeeping Coach: Antonio Chimenti; Fitness Coaches: Vito Azzone and Luca Coppari; Match Analyst: Filippo Lorenzon; Doctors: Angelo De Carli and Luca Gatteschi; Nutritionist Cristian Petri; Physiotherapist: Enzo Paolini, Guido Mauro Ferrini and Maurizio Fagorzi. Under-21 National Team’s full schedule Saturday 17th June
17:30 press conference at the Krakow Stadium
18:00 MD-1 training session at the Krakow Stadium Sunday 18th June
10:30 training at TG Wisla Krakow  (closed door)
20:45 DENMARK vs. ITALY “Krakow Stadium” post match press conferences to follow after the match Monday 19th June
11:00  training at TG Wisla Krakow  (open to the public)
13:30  meeting the media at the ‘Hotel ‘Q-Plus’ – Krakow (player) Tuesday 20th June
17:00 press conference at the Tychy Stadium
18:00 MD-1 training session at the Tychy Stadium Wednesday 21st June
18:00 CZECH REPUBLIC vs. ITALY  Tychy Stadium post match press conferences to follow after the match Thursday 22nd June
11:00 training at TG Wisla Krakow (closed door)
13:30 meeting the media (player) Friday 23rd June
17:30 press conference at the Krakow Stadium
18:00 MD-1 training session at the Krakow Stadium Saturday 24th June
10:30 training at TG Wisla Krakow (closed door)
20:45 ITALY vs. GERMANY  Krakow Stadium post match press conferences to follow after the match Group C schedule for Under-21 side at the European Championship   Matchday One (18th June) Germany vs. Czech Republic (18:00 CEST – Tychy) ITALY vs. Denmark (20:45 – Krakow) Matchday Two (21st June) Czech Republic vs. ITALY (18:00  – Tychy) Denmark vs. Germany (20:45 – Krakow) Matchday Three (24th June) Czech Republic vs. Denmark (20:45 – Tychy) ITALY vs. Germany (20:45 – Krakow) Semi-finals (27th June)  Final (30th June) ]]>

Training is continuing for the Under-21 National Team at Trigoria’s Fulvio Bernardini sports centre ahead of the European Championship in Poland. The injured players have returned to their clubs with Brescia’s Arturo Calabresi and Sassuolo forward Federico Ricci withdrawing. Tomorrow evening, Luigi Di Biagio will confirm his 23-man squad to UEFA and the Juventus defender Daniele Rugani joined the team for training this afternoon.

Genoa defender Davide Biraschi described the sensation of being at the Azzurrini’s training camp as he hopes to be selected to travel to Poland. “I’m having a great experience, it’s an unexpected dream to be here,” he said. “I feel honoured to be part of this group, to wear this shirt doesn’t mean that I’ve made it but it’s another reason to do well. Now, I’ll just have to hope to be one of the 23 who go to Poland.”

After complimenting the Under-20 National Team for making the semi-finals of the World Cup (“They won with ten men and this shows that nobody can stop you when you play for your country), Biraschi went on to say how Italy has everything in place to have a good European Championship. “We have a competitive squad and just to be in it fills me with pride. We’re a very strong side but at the same time we know that we’ll face some very prestigious opponents.”

Squad List 
Goalkeepers: Pierluigi Gollini (Atalanta), Gabriele Marchegiani (Spal), Lorenzo Montipò (Novara);
Defenders: Antonio Barreca (Torino), Davide Biraschi (Genoa), Kevin Bonifazi (Spal), Arturo Calabresi (Brescia), Davide Calabria (Milan), Lorenzo Dickmann (Novara), Adam Masina (Bologna), Nicola Murru (Cagliari);
Midfielders: Marco Benassi (Torino), Danilo Cataldi (Genoa), Roberto Gagliardini (Inter), Alberto Grassi (Atalanta), Manuel Locatelli (Milan), Luca Mazzitelli (Sassuolo);
Forwards: Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Alberto Cerri (Pescara), Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina), Federico Di Francesco (Bologna), Luca Garritano (Cesena), Andrea Petagna (Atalanta), Federico Ricci (Sassuolo), Daniele Verde (Avellino).
Staff – Coach: Luigi Di Biagio; Assistant Coaches: Carmine Nunziata and Daniele Franceschini; Secretary: Emiliano Cozzi; Goalkeeping Coach: Antonio Chimenti; Fitness Coaches: Vito Azzone and Luca Coppari; Match Analyst: Filippo Lorenzon; Doctors: Angelo De Carli and Luca Gatteschi; Nutritionist: Cristian Petri; Physiotherapists: Enzo Paolini, Guido Mauro Ferrini and Maurizio Fagorzi.

Under-21 National Team’s full schedule 

Monday 5th June
h. 13.30 meeting the media (player)
h. 17.00 training (open to the press)

Tuesday 6th June
h. 10.30 training (closed door)
h. 17.00 training (closed door)
h.  22.00 confirmation of the 23-man squad for the European Championship

Wednesday 7th June
h. 13.30  meeting the media (player)
h. 17.00  training (closed door)

Thursday 8th June
h. 10.30 training (closed door)
h. 17.00 training (closed door)

Friday 9th June
h. 15.00 Friendly match against undecided opposition (open to the press)
Meeting with the media to follow  (Coach)
Squad to depart following the end of second training camp

Sunday 11th June
Players to gather at the Fulvio Bernardini training center (Trigoria) by 12:00 CET
h. 17.00 training (closed door)

Monday 12th June
h. 13.30 meeting the media (player)
h. 17.00 training (open to the press)

Tuesday 13th June
h. 17.00 training (closed door)

Wednesday 14th June
h. 10.30 OFFICIAL SQUAD PHOTO
h. 13.30 meeting the media (Coach)
h. 17.00 training (closed door)

Thursday 15th June
h. 11.00 flight departure from Rome to Krakow, before then transferring to Hotel ‘Q-Plus’ in Krakow.
h. 17.00 training at TG Wisla Krakow (closed door)

Friday 16th June
h. 13.15 meeting the media at the Hotel ‘Q-Plus’ – Krakow (player)
h. 16.30 training at TG Wisla Krakow  (closed door)

Saturday 17th June
h. 17.30 press conference at the “Krakow Stadium”
h. 18.00 MD-1 training session at the “Krakow Stadium”

Sunday 18th June
h. 10.30 training at TG Wisla Krakow  (closed door)
h.  20.45 DENMARK vs. ITALY “Krakow Stadium” post match press conferences to follow after the match

Monday 19th June
h. 11.00  training at TG Wisla Krakow  (open to the public)
h. 13.30  meeting the media at the ‘Hotel ‘Q-Plus’ – Krakow (player)

Tuesday 20th June
h. 17.00 press conference at the “Tychy Stadium”
h. 18.00 MD-1 training session at the “Tychy Stadium”

Wednesday 21st June
h. 18.00 CZECH REPUBLIC vs. ITALY  “Tychy Stadium” post match press conferences to follow after the match

Thursday 22nd June
h. 11.00 training at TG Wisla Krakow  (closed door)
h. 13.30 meeting the media (player)

Friday 23rd June
h. 17.30 press conference at the “Krakow Stadium”
h..18.00 MD-1 training session at the “Krakow Stadium”

Saturday 24th June
h. 10.30 training at TG Wisla Krakow  (closed door)
h. 20.45 ITALY vs. GERMANY  “Krakow Stadium” post match press conferences to follow after the match

Group C schedule for Under-21 side at the European Championship  

Matchday One (18th June)
Germany vs. Czech Republic (18:00 CEST – Tychy)
ITALY vs. Denmark (20.45 – Krakow)

Matchday Two (21st June)
Czech Republic vs. ITALY (18:00  – Tychy)
Denmark vs. Germany (20.45 – Krakow)

Matchday Three (24th June)
Czech Republic vs. Denmark (20.45 – Tychy)
ITALY vs. Germany (20.45 – Krakow)

Source:  figc.it

Spain won 2-1 in the Under-21 friendly at the Stadio Olimpico but the Azzurrini performed well and a Pellegrini header spurred hope of securing a late draw.

As in the match against Poland, Luigi Di Biagio’s side had many players out absent with Bonifazi the latest absentee. Scuffet was in goal for Gollini. Masina, Mandragora, Biraschi and Ferrari were in defence. The midfield was made up of Cataldi, Benassi with a front three of Berardi, Chiesa and Cerri.

Scuffet had to make two important save early on to preserve the deadlock. After nine minutes, Berardi fired after a direct ball but Pau Lopez made an excellent save. There was a chance for Cerri after 11 minutes and a header for Chiesa after 17.

Niguez opened the scoring with a volley from a Scuffet rebound after 35 minutes. Spain went 2-0 up after 38 minutes as the ball bounced off Chiesa which allowed Mayoral to head home. The half ended with a great Scuffet save from Niguez.

Spain hit the post after 56 minutes through Asensio and Di Biagio made three changes with Locatelli, Calabria and Favilli on for Cataldi, Mandragora and Cerri.

Italy’s reaction was reward after 67 minutes as Pellegrini found the net with a header from Berardi’s cross which reopened the match. Pushed on by the 12,000 fans, Italy looked to complete the comeback with Grassi and Di Francesco also coming on but Spain gave little away as they hung on.
Luigi Di Biagio praised the reaction from his side after going 2-0 down. “It was the test that we wanted because we’ve always looked to test ourselves against the best sides and Spain are certainly one of them,” he said. “The boys gave everything, I liked the reaction after going two goals down. We were against who I think is the strongest European side at this level and we conceded but also created things, at 0-0 we had the better chances.”

Goalscorer Pellegrini also spoke: “Ours is a great group, the reaction was excellent after conceding two, we learnt that we can go to the Euros to compete.”

Source:   figc.it

The Under-21 National Team will be back in action tomorrow against Spain at 21:00 CEST in Rome for the first time in 30 years. The Azzurrini’s last appearance was in 1986 against the same opponent and it ended 2-1 with goals from Gianluca Vialli and Giuseppe Giannini. Current coach Luigi Di Biagio was there. “I remember that game well,” he said. “The atmosphere was amazing. It doesn’t matter for us if it’s a qualifier or a friendly, we’ll approach the game with the same determination and will to win. I hope that there will be a good crowd again tomorrow and that the people enjoy themselves.”

It’s a glamorous friendly and a rematch of the European Championship final four years ago in Israel where Spain won 4-2. It comes four days after a good win away in Poland but there are challenges to be overcome with numerous absences and the defender Kevin Bonifazi had to withdraw with a muscle issue. The coach has a team in mind for the European Championship in Poland but there are still places up for grabs.

“Spain are a different team from Poland,” said Di Biagio at his press conference. “We’ve looked back on Thursday’s game and even with cool heads, it gave us a good feeling as we had the right rhythm away against a tough side. Now, we have a second high-level friendly. Spain are better technically and we have to turn up to play our game toe-to-toe with them and not be afraid. Mine is a great group and the main aim is to train well and enjoy ourselves if it helps us to play more calmly.”

Squad List

Goalkeepers: Emil Audero (Juventus), Pierluigi Gollini (Atalanta), Simone Scuffet (Udinese);

Defenders: Antonio Barreca (Torino), Davide Biraschi (Genoa), Kevin Bonifazi (Spal), Davide Calabria (Milan), Alex Ferrari (Hellas Verona), Adam Masina (Bologna), Nicola Murru (Cagliari);

Midfielders: Marco Benassi (Torino), Danilo Cataldi (Genoa), Alberto Grassi (Atalanta), Manuel Locatelli (Milan), Rolando Mandragora (Juventus), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Sassuolo), Valerio Verre (Pescara);

Forwards: Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Alberto Cerri (Pescara), Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina), Federico Di Francesco (Bologna), Andrea Favilli (Ascoli), Luca Garritano (Cesena), Federico Ricci (Sassuolo).

Staff – Delegation Head: Giorgio Bottaro; Accompanying Director: Vincenzo Marinelli; Coach: Luigi Di Biagio; Assistant Coach: Carmine Nunziata; Secretary: Emiliano Cozzi; Goalkeeping Coach: Antonio Chimenti; Fitness Coach: Vito Azzone; Match Analyst: Filippo Lorenzon; Doctors: Angelo De Carli and Luca Gatteschi; Phyiotherapists: Enzo Paolini and Guido Mauro Ferrini; Nutritionists: Cristian Petri.

Schedule (All times CEST)

Sunday 26th March

13:00             Meeting with the press at the hotel (Coach)

15:30             Training (Closed)

Monday 27th March

21:00             ITALY –SPAIN Under 21,   Stadio Olimpico

Source: figc.it