The FIGC reports that the centre pitch at the Federal Technical Center, the ‘Vittorio Pozzo’, was the setting for a test match between Mancini’s men and the Cremonese Primavera team. The Azzurri who took to the field were the ones who did not start from the first minute against the Swiss; Acerbi – who replaced Chiellini in the first half yesterday – and Florenzi didn’t take part in the training match either. In the first of the two 25-minute halves, Sirigu and Raspadori played alongside the Grigiorosso, while in the second half Sirigu stayed with the Lombardi side, as well as Bernardeschi and Belotti for half the time each. Chiesa and Belotti (both scorers of a hat-trick), Pessina (scoring twice) and Bernardeschi scored to seal a 9-1 final score. The young Lauciello found the net for Cremonese.

At the end of the match a group photo was taken to remember this special afternoon for the Grigiorossi. Not to be missed in the shot was the delegation chief of the Azzurri, Gianluca Vialli, born in Cremona and growing through the footballing ranks in the Cremonese area.