There was another double training session for the Azzurri today in Coverciano as they continued to prepare for the friendly against France in Bari on Thursday 1st September (ko 21:00) and the opening match of World Cup qualifying on 5th September in Haifa against Israel (ko 20:45).

Four players have earned their first call-up in Ventura’s first squad (Donnarumma, Romagnoli, Pavoletti and Belotti) after impressing at the start of the season. Andrea Belotti has been head and shoulders above the rest having scored four goals in two matches and having put himself at the top of the Serie A goalscoring chart. He was hoping to go to Euro 2016, but the important thing is that his moment with Italy has finally arrived. “I’m very excited,” said ‘the Rooster’ at today’s press conference, “one of the first things that struck me was definitely the welcome in Coverciano. As soon as I arrived, I was hit by euphoria. I was also impressed by the squad. The senior players were here straightaway to help me feel welcome and this showed what great individuals they are.”

At Torino, the understanding between him and Ventura was instantaneous and the Italy coach has given Belotti a big new opportunity in his first Azzurri squad: “He knows my characteristics, he’s always had confidence in me and I know what he asks for. I certainly won’t have a guaranteed place in the national team because all of the forwards are very good. There’ll be big competition and then it will be up to the boss to decide who plays.”

Belotti hopes to follow in the footsteps of Shevchenko and Aguero, two strikers whom he has always considered as role models: “It’s a pleasure to be compared to people like Casiraghi, Vieri and others who have made history, but I have my own qualities and we’ll see if one day I manage to do what they did. I love running beyond the defence, I look to get into space and I don’t shy away when there’s a physical contest with an opponent.”

The dream is to score in Bari against France on Thursday: “It will be a very difficult match,” said Belotti, “they got to the final of the Euros and lost a very tight game. They all play at the highest level, they won’t allow us much space, but we’re working with the boss on how to cause them problems.”

Italy Squad list

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan), Federico Marchetti (Lazio);
Defenders: Luca Antonelli (AC Milan), Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan), Angelo Obinze Ogbonna (West Ham), Alessio Romagnoli (AC Milan), Daniele Rugani (Juventus);
Midfielders: Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Giacomo Bonaventura (AC Milan), Antonio Candreva (Inter), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (AC Milan), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain);
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Eder Citadin Martins (Inter), Manolo Gabbiadini (Napoli), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Leonardo Pavoletti (Genoa), Graziano Pellè (Shandong Luneng).

Staff – Head Coach: Gian Piero Ventura; Assistant Coaches: Salvatore Sullo, Paolo Vanoli and Gianluca Spinelli; Secretary: Mauro Vladovich; Fitness coaches: Alessandro Innocenti and Giovanni Brignardello; Team Doctors: Enrico Castellacci and Carmine Costabile; Physiotherapists/Masseurs: Fabrizio Scalzi, Emanuele Randelli, Alfonso Casano and Pasquale Raia.

You can buy here football tickets for the Italian National Football team here. Italy International Friendly Tickets

Italy National Team Tickets and International friendly games

Italy’s schedule for the matches against France and Israel in September:

Tuesday 30th August
10:30 Training (closed)
13:30 Press conference including presentation of the new Club Italia
16:15 Press conference with one player
17:00 Video session followed by training (first 20′ open to press)

Wednesday 31st August 
10:00 Training (closed)
16:30 Training (closed)
17:30 Team leaves Coverciano for Florence airport
18:15 Chartered flight from Florence to Bari
19:30 Arrival in Bari and transfer to Stadio San Nicola
19:45 Press conference (coach and one player)

Thursday 1st September        
21:00 ITALY vs. FRANCE FRIENDLY MATCH
At the end of the match, there will be a press meeting and players will return to the hotel for dinner

Friday 2nd September
17:30 Training at the Stadio San Nicola (first 20’ open to press)

Saturday 3rd September
10:30 Training at the Stadio San Nicola (first 20’ open to press)
followed by meeting with the press
17:00 Training at the Stadio San Nicola (closed)

Sunday 4th September
10:00 Training at the Stadio San Nicola (closed)
15:15 Chartered flight from Bari to Tel Aviv departs
19:05 (18:05 CEST) Chartered flight arrives in Tel Aviv and squad transfer by bus to Haifa (1h 20mins)
20:45 (19:45 CEST) Pitch inspection at the S. Hofer Stadium and press conference with head coach and one player
Followed by transfer to hotel

Monday 5th September
21:45 (20:45 CEST) 2018 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING MATCH: ISRAEL vs. ITALY
Followed by meeting with the press and transfer to hotel

Tuesday 6th September
12:30 (11:30 CEST) Chartered flight leaves Tel Aviv for Milan Malpensa via Rome Fiumincino

Photo figc.it