Italy Head Coach Roberto Mancini continues preparing the team on Wednesday 2 September 2020 for UEFA Nations League games against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands. The team completed training on Tuesday 1 September at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, which will host Friday’s game against AS Roma forward Edin Dzeko’s Bosnia.
Good and bad news. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) reported that some players have been left out of the team due to injuries. Mancini had to give up to Brescia midfielder Sandro Tonali. Latest to leave the squad also for injury is Juventus forward Federico Bernardeschi due to muscle strain. Instead, Jorginho will train with the group this afternoon; the Chelsea midfielder, who arrived at Coverciano yesterday, tested negative for coronavirus in the necessary medical exams.
The good news for Italy Head Coach Mancini is to see the Serie A Top Scorer Lazio forward Ciro Immobile with 36 goals determined to give his best. Immobile will look to score his 11th goal with the national team. Immobile, winner of the European Golden Boot – becoming only the third Italian to ever win the award after Luca Toni and Francesco Totti.
During the press conference, Immobile said, “the Golden Boot is an important award. It gave me a lot of satisfaction to win this award ahead of some amazing players. I’m proud of what I’ve done and I’ve come here feeling really good. I want to do well with Italy too. Everyone expect a lot from me and for me to do what I did at club level.”
Photo: via figc.it
Surely, the presence of Immobile is an added boost for the Italian team. Immobile is conscious of the importance of the UEFA Nations League, “I need to go into the Euros in the best of form. It’ll be a long and complicated year, so I’ll need to be in the right frame of mind in the difficult moments. I think everyone needs to think they can start. Mancini has always had me and Belotti playing in a game each and, while physical fitness is a big topic, I think that’s the right way to go. The competition between us is healthy. We need to go into the Euros as a group of 23 players; if we stick together, then we can do something great. Postponing the Euros was good for us because we’ll have an extra year to develop.”
“We’ll need to play smart against Bosnia, perhaps because our physical condition is not optimal. We need to start with a win.”
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Francesco Caputo (Sassuolo), Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina), Stephan El Shaarawy (Shanghai Shenua), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Moise Kean (Everton), Kevin Lasagna (Udinese), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna).
*Suspended call-ups awaiting the outcome of medical tests once the players’ respective isolation requirements are complete.
👉 The Italian National Team schedule (all times CEST):
Wednesday 2 September
13:45 – Press conference with a player at the Coverciano Auditorium
17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)
Thursday 3 September
17:00 – Italy’s press conference (Coach and one player) at the Stadio Franchi in Florence (location TBC)
17:30 – Italy’s training at the Stadio Franchi in Florence (open to the press for the first 15 minutes – location TBC)
18:30 – Bosnia & Herzegovina’s press conference (Coach and one player) at the Stadio Franchi in Florence
19:00 – Bosnia & Herzegovina’s training at the Stadio Franchi in Florence (open to the press for the first 15 minutes)
Friday 4 September
20:45 – Italy vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina (Stadio Franchi in Florence)
Followed by a press conference with the Coach
Saturday 5 September
10:00 – Training (behind closed doors)
17:30 – Transfer Florence to Venice
Sunday 6 September
10:45 – Transfer Venice to Amsterdam
11:00 – The Netherlands’ training at the KNVB Campus (open to the press for the first 15 minutes)
13:15 – The Netherlands’ press conference (Coach and one player) at the KNVB Campus
17:30 – Italy’s press conference (Coach and one player) at the Johan Cruijff ArenA
18:00 – Italy’s training at the Johan Cruijff ArenA (open to the press for the first 15 minutes)
Monday 7 September
20:45 – Netherlands vs. Italy (Johan Cruijff ArenA)
Followed by a press conference with the Coach and the squad’s return to Italy
Corriere dello Sport, Front Page, Thursday 3 September 2020
Front Page, Corriere dello Sport, Thursday 3 September 2020
👉Roma and Napoli waiting: the exchange involving Ünder is frozen Dzeko and Milik prisoners Juve await the green light for Suarez and block the round of strikers
It’s a great day for Juventus fans. Juventus new signing Brazilian Midfielder Arthur Melo met with the press on Tuesday 2 September 2020 during a press conference at the Allianz Stadium. The fans were waiting for Melo since his official announcement in June. Arthur’s presentation, a walk around the stadium and the Juventus Museum.
Arthur Melo expressed his emotion to be playing in the Italian Serie A, “Being in the Italian championship is wonderful, it will be an exciting season and we can’t wait to start.”
“It is a very important day for me. I want to thank everyone for welcoming me in the best way. Being here is a unique privilege, Juve have an incredible history” Arthur Melo.
As for working with Juventus Coach Andrea Pirlo, Melo commented, “I haven’t talked in detail with Coach Pirlo yet, but he knows football like few others. Being coached by him is also a privilege. Anyone who loves football knows who Pirlo is. Working with him is an honour, his greatness needs no introduction.”
“Juventus has decided to invest in me, and for me, it’s a reason for incredible enthusiasm. I will do everything to honour this commitment. I have the opportunity to play with important teammates, the Juventus project is extremely ambitious and I am a part of it. The Champions League? It would be an incredible title and we will work with all our strength to win it.”
“I was very well received, not only by my Brazilian teammates, but by all the players, the staff and management. The fans are also making me feel affection and it’s all wonderful. I feel almost like home.”
As for his playing position, Melo commented: “I can play in various positions and in various modules: I’m available and there won’t be any kind of problem.”
By Anna Italia
