Luigi Di Biagio has called up 26 Azzurri players for the friendlies against Argentina and England on Friday 23rd March at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester at 19:45 GMT and on Tuesday 27th March at Wembley Stadium at 20:00 GMT respectively.
Patrick Cutrone and Federico Chiesa have received their first call-ups for the senior team with the latter selected by both Ventura and Di Biagio for the training camps dedicated to emerging young players. The focus on youth is also clear with nine of the 13 players who made their debuts in the past two years included. They are: Donnarumma, Rugani, Spinazzola, Zappacosta, Cristante, Gagliardini, Pellegrini, Verdi and Belotti. Giacomo Bonaventura is back for the first time since the games in November 2016 against Liechtenstein and Germany.
The Azzurri will arrive tomorrow evening at Coverciano and train there from Monday 19th to Thursday 22nd March when they’ll depart for Manchester in the afternoon for the Argentina match. After that, the Italy National Team will stay there to train at Manchester City’s training ground over the weekend before heading to London on Monday 26th March for the match against the home side the next day at Wembley.
Squad List
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Mattia Perin (Genoa);
Defenders: Leonardo Bonucci (Milan), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Mattia De Sciglio (Juventus), Gian Marco Ferrari (Sampdoria), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Leonardo Spinazzola (Atalanta), Davide Zappacosta (Chelsea);
Midfielders: Giacomo Bonaventura (Milan), Bryan Cristante (Atalanta), Roberto Gagliardini (Inter), Jorge Luiz Frello Jorginho (Napoli), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain);
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Antonio Candreva (Inter), Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina), Patrick Cutrone (Milan), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Simone Verdi (Bologna).
Staff – Coach: Luigi Di Biagio; Assistant Coaches: Massimo Mutarelli and Carmine Nunziata; National Youth Teams Co-Ordinator: Maurizio Viscidi; Fitness Coaches: Vito Azzone and Giovanni Brignardello; Goalkeeping Coaches: Antonio Chimenti and Gianluca Spinelli; Match Analyst: ntonio Gagliardi e Filippo Lorenzon; FIGC Doctors: Enrico Castellacci and Carmine Costabile; Masseurs/Physios: Emanuele Randelli, Fabrizio Scalzi, Maurizio Fagorzi, Alfonso Casano; Osteopath: Walter Martinelli.
The Schedule
Sunday 18th March
Gather at Coverciano by 24.00
Monday 19th March
13:30 Coach’s press conference
15:30 Training (Open to media for the first 15 minutes)
Tuesday 20th March
10:00 Training (CLOSED)
13:30 Press conference (players)
15:30 Training (Open to media for the first 15 minutes)
Wednesday 21st March
10:00 Training (CLOSED)
13:30 Press Conference (Players)
15:30 Training (Open to the media for the first 15 minutes)
Thursday 22nd March
10:00 Training MD-1
16:45 Charter flight from Manchester to London
18:15 GMT Arrive in Manchester e trasferimento all’ Etihad Stadium
19:00 GMT. Pitch inspection**
19:15 GMT Press conference MD-1 (Coach and one player)**
Friday 23rd March
19.00 GMT ARGENTINA vs. ITALY Referee: Martin Atkinson (ENG); Ass.1: Lee Betts (ENG); Ass.2: Constantine Hatzidakis (ENG) ; Fourth Official.: Craig Pawson (ENG)
To follow Post-match media activities, return to hotel
Saturday 24th March
11:00 GMT Training at MCFC Sport Centre (Closed)
Sunday 25th March
10:00 GMT Press conference (players)**
11:00 GMT Training at MCFC Sport Centre (Open to the media for the first 15 minutes)**
Monday 26th March
10:30 GMT Training at MCFC Sport Centre (Closed)
17:30 GMT Charter flight from Manchester to London Luton
18:30 GMT Scheduled arrival at Luton and transfer to Wembley Stadium
19:30 GMT Pitch inspection**
19:45 GMT Press conference MD-1 (Coach and one player)**
Tuesday 27th March
20:00 England vs. Italy
Post-match media activity and return to Italy to follow
Note
** Reserved to accredited media for the Argentina and England matches.
Source: figc.it