Italy Head Coach Roberto Mancini resolving doubts ahead of the UEFA Nations League games against Bosnia & Herzegovina and the Netherlands. As reported by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on Tuesday 1 September 2020, earlier on this evening, Jorginho from Chelsea FC arrived at Coverciano, where, as per protocol, he will be subject to tests to ascertain whether he can join the National Team in training. Brescia midfielder Sandro Tonali resulted unavailable and Manccini has decided to exclude him from the called up players.
Photo: via figc.it
The team trained at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, where they’ll take to the field on Friday evening. Head Coach Mancini sent out three teams, and they faced off in a mini tournament. During the session, Alex Meret and Lorenzo Insigne picked up knocks to their left knee and left ankle respectively. However, neither injury is currently a cause for concern.
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):
Tuesday 1 September
13:45 – Press conference with a player at the Coverciano Auditorium
17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)
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
The Italian National team continuing their afternoon training at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence on Tuesday 1 September 2020 behind closed doors. Italy Head Coach Roberto Mancini is preparing the team to conquer the victory in the next two UEFA Nations League game: The first game Italy vs Bosnia Herzegovina is scheduled Friday 4 September at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence at 20:45. The second game Netherlands vs Italy is on Monday 7 September at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam at 20:45.
The atmosphere with the Azzurri is highly positive. Among the most enthusiastic we could mention the three new called up for the first time: Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni, Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli, and Sassuolo forward Francesco Caputo. Bastoni, Locatelli, and Caputo expressed their pride to be with the Italian team during the press conference on Tuesday.
Photo: figc.it
Stats are positive for the Italian National team against Bosnia Herzegovina defeating them twice in the qualification of the EURO 2020: Italy 2 – 1 Bosnia in Turin and Italy 3- 0 Bosniain Zenica.
Sassuolo forward Francesco Caputo has received his first call-up at the age of 33, a well-earned reward for the 21 goals he scored in Serie A this season: “I’m chuffed to get this opportunity… I’m the happiest man in the world. You’ve got to keep pursuing your dreams, whatever you’re looking to achieve in life. In Italy there are lots of underrated young players, who need to be pushed to help our national side improve. I’ve been labelled as a typical striker ‘from the provinces’ for some time now, but it doesn’t bother me: it gives me strength to move forward with my career.”
I am so happy for Caputo with this called up because, despite his 33 years old, has proven to be in great shape. Caputo was a key player for Sassuolo this season scoring 21 goals in the Serie A.
“In Italy there are lots of underrated young players, who need to be pushed to help our national side improve, said Caputo”
As reported by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Alessandro Bastoni had already completed a trial at Coverciano in February 2019 after a call-up from Roberto Mancini. Since then he has grown a lot as a player, so much so that he now features regularly for Inter. In the Europa League final, he was Inter’s best player and yesterday, Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini congratulated him on his rapid improvement: “Of course I’d like to thank Chiellini for those kind words, I often watched him play and it has really helped me grow as a player. And as for role models, I have to say I really like Bonucci, the way he defends and how he sets himself up on the pitch: I’ve studied loads of his and Giorgio’s performances.”
In addition to Bastoni, there are another five Inter players in the squad, which is testament to their success this season: “It’s been a great year. I’d like to thank Inter and Coach Conte for putting their trust in me. I did well to earn my place in the team game after game, but I don’t think there are many 20-year-olds who would be put into the team at a side as important as Inter.”
Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli, having earned a place in the Guardian’s “Next Generation 2015” list, which compiled the Top 50 talents born in 1998, on 22 October 2016 Locatelli was at the top of the world when he scored the winner for AC Milan against Juventus. But he has only truly blossomed during his time at Sassuolo, though Manuel has no regrets about how he ended his career with AC Milan. “Every step that I’ve taken has brought me to where I am now, to be the footballer that I am today. At Sassuolo, I’ve transformed as a player. Everyone dreams to wear this shirt, it’s a dream that I had since back when I was playing in my local parish. I want to play well and enjoy every single moment.
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):
Saturday 29 August
The group to meet at the Coverciano Federal Training Centre by 23:30
Sunday 30 August
13:45 – Press conference with the Coach at the Coverciano Auditorium
17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)
Monday 31 August
13:45 – Press conference with a player at the Coverciano Auditorium
17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)
Tuesday 1 September
13:45 – Press conference with a player at the Coverciano Auditorium
17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)
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
A year later, the defender is ready to put the captain’s armband back on: “I hope to see fans back in stadiums soon and to go to the Euros”
Monday, August 31, 2020, via figc.it
The Italy defender shared a post from the heart on his Instagram profile this morning: “More than a year has passed since my last game for Italy. The world has changed. What hasn’t changed is the desire, the sense of belonging and the honour of wearing these colours. Now more than ever: Forza Azzurri.”
This is the spirit with which Giorgio Chiellini returns to the group to take back his place in the team, along with the captain’s armband which he inherited in September 2018, coincidentally for Italy’s Nations League debut at the time. A competition binding together three big and meaningful moments from the Bianconeri defender’s career: his return after a year out, his first game with the captain’s armband and his 100th appearance in Azzurri colours, which Chiellini celebrated against Portugal at San Siro on 17 November 2018.
Chiellini said the following in today’s press conference: “I was pleased to be called back up to the Azzurri squad. There were a few doubts in my mind, but the Coach has been in touch a lot over these months, he’s always been close to me and I can only be grateful to him for that. Wearing the Italy shirt is always a great feeling for me. I needed to be back in these colours.”
He’s been a part of the National Team for 16 years now and going above and beyond being just a pillar of the squad, he’s also a real leader and an example for the younger players, both on and off the pitch. “It’s been a difficult year for me,” he said, “and complicated for everyone, because external circumstances have made it far tougher. I went three months without seeing my family; the last two months were the worst. I wanted to give my all for the team and I gave more due to this upheaval of our lives. I’ve got more continuity now and I feel like myself again. It was strange to see games played behind closed doors. There isn’t as much emotion as when you have the crowd behind you, so I hope they can return as soon as possible. Without them, they feel like training matches, even when you’re playing big games.”
Chiellini is preparing and Italy are preparing too – it’s been ten months since the Azzurri last played. Friday is the first big test: Bosnia & Herzegovina in Florence for the Italy National Team that is now one year older. “We have a lot of young players,” the defensive stalwart stated, “they’ll have an extra year of experience. If we compare Italy to other top European sides, one more year can help us to develop our talents. Personally, I don’t set goals for myself, I just move forward in time. If I can play in the Euros, then I’m happy, it means I’m back to my best. I would be happy to end the year playing a part in the Euros. I don’t want to think about what comes after.”
A realist as always, Chiellini also spoke about the league season, which starts on 19 September: “With what’s happened in recent months, we can’t talk like it’s a normal season. We’ll view it from what happens. We’re lucky, but in the rest of the world they’re still going through a really tough time. You have to make do and make the best of a bad situation that will last for a while. If the league season doesn’t have any breaks this year, we can be happy. We all know that we’ll have to make sacrifices; we all would’ve liked more time to prepare, but there’s no semblance of normality right now. We’ll try to do our best in these games without making excuses, but giving something more.”
The Azzurri are doing an afternoon session today, and train at 18:00 CEST at the Stadio Artemio Franchi tomorrow.
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 schedule (all times CEST):
Monday 31 August
13:45 – Press conference with a player at the Coverciano Auditorium
17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)
Tuesday 1 September
13:45 – Press conference with a player at the Coverciano Auditorium
17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)
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
Italy Head Coach Roberto Mancini met on Sunday 30 August 2020 in Coverciano for the first training behind closed doors of the 37 called up players for their first two games in the UEFA Nations League. The first game Italy vs Bosnia Herzegovina is scheduled Friday 4 September at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence at 20:45. The second game Netherlands vs Italy is on Monday 7 September at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam at 20:45.
Italy team training on Sunday 30 August 2020 in Coverciano preparing for the Nations League games against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Netherlands. https://t.co/5IU9cGS8ur
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 schedule (all times CEST):
Sunday 30 August
13:45 – Press conference with the Coach at the Coverciano Auditorium
17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)
Monday 31 August
13:45 – Press conference with a player at the Coverciano Auditorium
17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)
Tuesday 1 September
13:45 – Press conference with a player at the Coverciano Auditorium
17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)
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
By Anna Italia
