“We are working hard and I repeat that we must stay grounded, we will approach each game as it comes. After winning two friendlies, we are prepared for our first game with Belgium. We are working to improve our rhythm, our intensity and our tactics,” said Antonio Conte as he was quietly satisfied with his team’s performance against Finland. “One thing that I can say for sure is that this is a team of great men and excellent footballers and this is the most important thing. In short tournaments, the players have to get on with each other. Then there is what happens on the pitch and I hope that goes well for them more than I do for myself.”

Photo:  figc.it

There were a lot of positive signs but also some doubts about Thiago Motta’s fitness. “It’s inevitable, there are those who didn’t arrive in condition because they didn’t play much with their clubs because of injury. Motta played for 60 minutes at a good tempo, he needs to improve but I am happy because these players are giving everything. I hope that they will be able to feel satisfied.”

The attacking partnership of Zaza and Immobile only lacked a goal: “We take a lot of shots on goal, we create a lot, a lucky goal would help to improve self-confidence. I have little to complain about, these boys are giving me everything. I know that it will be a difficult tournament but I am aware that I have a group that will give everything for Italy.”

He opened the scoring from the penalty spot and he assisted De Rossi for the second. Lazio winger Antonio Candreva has no doubts about the side’s preparations: “We are preparing at our best, we are doing well and it was a good test. Team spirit and sacrifice are key for this group.”
“I thank Conte for his faith in me,” added Sturaro who made his Azzurri debut tonight. “I always train at the maximum and I will give a hand if I’m needed. Compared to the Scotland friendly, we are a bit better physically. We have worked a lot in these past two weeks, our condition is getting better and we need to improve more and play together. It’s pointless to talk now, we have to go on the pitch and look to surprise everyone.”

El Shaarawy was another player convinced that Italy are improving: “We’ll arrive at the Euros with a lot of confidence, we are aware of our strengths. It’s better if they say that we’re not favourites, we have to think about each game as it comes, starting with Belgium. We are improving, tonight we put in an excellent technical performance.”

Official squad and shirt numbers

Goalkeepers: 1 Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), 13 Federico Marchetti (Lazio), 12 Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain);
Defenders: 15 Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), 19 Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), 3 Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), 5 Angelo Obinze Ogbonna (West Ham);
Wingers: 21 Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), 6 Antonio Candreva (Lazio),  4 Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), 2 Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), 22 Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma);
Midfielders: 16 Daniele De Rossi (Roma), 8 Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), 23 Emanuele Giaccherini (Bologna),10 Thiago Motta (Paris Saint Germain), 18 Marco Parolo (Lazio), 14 Stefano Sturaro (Juventus);
Forwards: 17 Citadin Martins Eder (Inter), 11 Ciro Immobile (Torino), 20 Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), 9 Graziano Pellè (Southampton), 7 Simone Zaza (Juventus).
*Players on stand-by: Marco Benassi (Torino), Alex Meret (Udinese), Daniele Rugani (Juventus) and Davide Zappacosta (Torino)
Staff – Head coach: Antonio Conte; team manager: Gabriele Oriali; secretary: Mauro Vladovich; assistant coaches: Angelo Alessio, Massimo Carrera, Gianluca Spinelli, Gianluca Conte and Mauro Sandreani; fitness coaches: Costantino Coratti and Paolo Bertelli; federal doctors: Enrico Castellacci and Luca Gatteschi; physiotherapists: Aldo Esposito, Alessandro Donato, Takahiro Yamamoto and Pasquale Raia.

The full programme is as follows (all times in CEST)

Wednesday 8th June
18.00 Players gathering at Hotel Malpensa, Milano
21.30 Italian Delegation departure to Montpellier
22.50 Scheduled arrival to Montpellier’s Airport /transfer to Marriott Courtyard Hotel
*: The organisation of open training, as one of the competition rules, is run directly by UEFA who make a limited number of spaces open to the football associations in the finals. With this quota in place, the FIGC will reserve access to the Italian media as accredited by UEFA EURO 2016. The following limitations will apply: One journalist for any media outlet (Printed press or online), one photographer for any media outlet or accredited photography agency. Remaining tickets will be distributed according to availability.

Thursday 9th
10.30 Training session – PUBLIC* c/o Centre d’entrainement “Bernard-Grasset”, Grammont
12.30 FIGC’s “Casa Azzurri Media Centre” official opening c/o Parc des Expositions Montpellier, 115 Avenue des Levades, 34470 Perols.
Tbf Media activity: Press conference (Head coach / selected players)
16.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS
*Note: The organisation of “public training session” is run directly by UEFA -LOC. Media representatives wishing to attend the “public training session” are requested to address their enquiry to LOC EURO 2016. Limitation will apply according with seats availability.

Friday 10th
10.30 Training session – OPEN TO MEDIA first 15’ – Grammont
13.00 Media activity: Press conference (selected players) – Casa Azzurri MC
16.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS

Saturday 11th
10.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS
13.00 Media activity: Press conference (selected players) – Casa Azzurri MC
16.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS

Sunday 12th
10.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS
17.20 Team transfer to Montpellier’s airport
18.10 Flight departure to Lyon
19.00 Scheduled arrival to Lyon, transfer to the stadium
19.30 MD-1 Media activities: Press conference (Head coach/1 or 2 players) / HBs
20.30 MD-1 Official Training – OPEN TO MEDIA first 15’

Monday 13th
21.00 Match: Belgium vs Italy
tbf Post match media activities: stadium
tbf Team to return to Montpellier

Tuesday 14th
16.30 Training session – OPEN TO MEDIA first 15’ – Grammont

Wednesday 15th
10.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS
13.00 Media activity: Press conference (selected players) – Casa Azzurri MC
16.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS

Thursday 16th
10.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS
tbf Team transfer to Montpellier’s airport
16.15 Flight departure to Toulouse
17.10 Scheduled arrival to Toulouse; transfer to the stadium
17.30 MD-1 Media activities: Press conference (Head coach/1 or 2 players) / HBs
18.30 MD-1 Official Training – OPEN TO MEDIA first 15’

Friday 17th
15.00 Match: Italy vs Sweden
tbf Post match Media activities – stadium
tbf Team to return to Montpellier

Saturday 18th
16.30 Training session – OPEN TO MEDIA first 15’ – Grammont

Sunday 19th
10.30 Training session – OPEN TO MEDIA first 15’ – Grammont
13.00 Media activity: Press conference (selected players) – Casa Azzurri MC
16.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS

Monday 20th
10.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS
13.00 Media activity: Press conference (selected players) – Casa Azzurri MC
16.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS

Tuesday 21st
10.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS
afternoon Team transfer to Montpellier’s Airport
15.30 Flight departure to Lille
17.15 Scheduled arrival to Lille, transfer to the stadium
17.45 MD-1 Media activities: Press conference (Head coach/1 or 2 players) / HBs
18.30 MD-1 Official Training – OPEN TO MEDIA first 15’

Wednesday 22nd
21.00 Match: Italy vs Republic of Ireland
Tbf Post match Media activities – stadium
tbf Team to return to Montpellier