The second phase of preparations for the Euro 2016 finals is now under way in Coverciano. The day has been dedicated to the Azzurri’s sponsors and the players will take to the training pitch in the afternoon under the watchful eye of Antonio Conte, who has just picked his training squad ahead of the tournament. “I have no doubts.”, declared the Italy manager in the press conference at the beginning of the training camp, “I already have a clear project in my mind. There will be an absolute maximum of two or three changes, my ideas are very clear and I am quite relaxed from this point of view.”
Thirty players assembled in Coverciano with the team still waiting for assessments on injuries sustained by Thiago Motta and Montolivo. “These circumstances were considered in the initial selection. We came to this number because of a few injuries and because of tactical choices. I made the decision based on selecting the best available players and on my own personal philosophy and by considering our qualification campaign and what we want to do at the finals. We need fit players, who will work hard and prepare well for these championships. We can’t expect anything from anyone.”, said Conte, “Motta and Montolivo are here precisely because I don’t want to leave anything to chance. I want to understand the nature of their injuries and know how long it will take for them to get back into training with the squad.”.
The manager also revealed that he had spoken with Andrea Pirlo: “I needed to hear from him and I sent people to America for a week in order to assess both Andrea and Giovinco. I looked at everything and made my choices tactically.”. It’s inevitable to take stock of the injury list, even if the Azzurri head coach isn’t looking to make excuses: “We’ve certainly not been very lucky recently, let’s hope that we get the rub of the green during the tournament. I’m asking my players to be dreamers, to dream of something that is wonderful and achievable.”.
Friendlies against Scotland and Finland will help clear up any remaining questions in the days leading up to the team’s departure for Montpellier but it will also be excellent preparation to play two teams with similar characteristics to Italy’s group-stage opponents in France. “We’ll be playing a very physical side, similar to Ireland, whilst Finland will also be a useful test ahead of the Sweden game. We’ve looked to avoid teams that we might have come up against at the Euros.”
The squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Federico Marchetti (Lazio), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain);
Defenders: Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Angelo Obinze Ogbonna (West Ham), Daniele Rugani (Juventus);
Wingers: Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Davide Zappacosta (Torino);
Midfielders: Marco Benassi (Torino), Giacomo Bonaventura (Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini (Bologna), Jorge Luiz Jorginho (Napoli), Riccardo Montolivo (Milan), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint Germain), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Stefano Sturaro (Juventus);
Forwards: Citadin Martins Eder (Inter), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Graziano Pellè (Southampton), Simone Zaza (Juventus).
Auxiliary goalkeeper: Alex Meret (Udinese)
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)
Pre-European Championship training camp and ITALY vs. SCOTLAND friendly
Tuesday, 24th May 2016
12:00 Meet up in Coverciano – Sponsor Day
13:30 Press conference (Italy head coach)
16:30 Training session (open to media for the first 15’)
Wednesday, 25th May 2016
10:30 Training session (behind closed doors)
13:30 Press conference (players)
16:30 Training session (open to media for the first 15’)
Thurday, 26th May 2016
10:30 Training session (behind closed doors)
13:30 Press conference with FIAT
15:30 Press conference (players)
17:00 Training session (open to media for the first 15’)
Friday, 27th May 2016
10:30 Training session (behind closed doors)
13:30 Press conference (players)
16:30 Training session (open to media for the first 15’)
Saturday, 28th May 2016
10:30 Training session (behind closed doors)
16:25 Departure for Malta (flight Firenze-Malta)
18:25 Scheduled arrival in Malta and transfer to Westin Dragonara Hotel
19:00 Press conference at the Ta’ Qali Stadium (Italy head coach + one player)
Sunday, 29th May 2016
20:45 Friendly ITALYvs. SCOTLAND at the Ta’ Qali Stadium
Press conference and transfer to the airport following the game
00:50 Departure of charter flight to Roma/ Milano Malpensa
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Pre-European Championship training camp and ITALY vs. FINLAND friendly
Tuesday, 31st May 2016 (Submission to UEFA of the EURO 2016 official 23-man squad within 24:00)
18:00 Meet up at the Parco dei Principi Hotel in Rome
20:30 RAI TV show ‘Sogno Azzurro”
22:30 Departure from Rome to Florence and transfer to Coverciano
Tuesday, 1st June 2016
10:00 Official squad photo with Scervino and Puma outfits (open only to photographers and TV operators)
followed by a training session behind closed doors
14:30 Press conference (players)
16:30 Training session (open to media for the first 15’)
Thurday, 2nd June 2016
10:30 Training session (behind closed doors)
13:30 Press conference (players)
16:30 Training session (open to media for the first 15’)
Friday, 3rd June 2016
10:30 Training session (behind closed doors)
13:30 Press conference (players)
16:30 Training session (open to media for the first 15’)
Saturday, 4th June 2016
09:30 Training session (behind closed doors)
13:30 Press conference (players)
16:30 Training session (open to media for the first 15’)
Sunday, 5th June 2016
10:30 Training session (behind closed doors)
16:00 Training session (behind closed doors)
18:03 Departure train from Florence to Verona Porta Nuova
20:10 Press conference at the Stadio Bentegodi (Italy head coach + one player)
Monday, 6th June 2016
20:45 Friendly ITALY vs. FINLAND at the Stadio Bentegodi
Press conference after the game
Wednesday, 8th June 2016
18:00 Meet up at the Malpensa Hotel
21:30 Departure of charter flight from Milano Malpensa to Montpellier
22:50 Scheduled arrival in Montpellier and transfer to Marriot Courtyard Hotel