Marco Parolo and Simone Verdi are two different players who are both valuable for Italy as they combine experience with talent. The first has been an important figure for years while the Bologna winger has been able to put injuries behind him and return to the squad after making his debut against the Netherlands in March.

With Verratti, De Rossi and Pellegrini out, Marco Parolo is the Italy midfielder with the most appearances (30) going into the matches with FYR Macedonia and Albania. Parolo has played an important role as Lazio have started the season strongly and he scored two against Sassuolo at the weekend. “I’m always sorry when teammates are injured but we have to look ahead to the next matches to carry forward the development and project of this group. There are a lot of interesting young players here who are doing well in the league and they also need to learn our style of play, they’re alert and all are capable of being ready straight away.”

In the coming two games, Italy will have to secure second place and improve the current ranking. “The Spain and Israel games showed us where we have to improve. We need to look to be positive and we’ll learn from our errors. I’m optimistic for the play-off because Italy are always Italy and there’s a will in the group to develop. Our path absolutely needs to take us to the World Cup, we’re really counting on going to Russia.” Versatile and capable of occupying different positions in midfield, Parolo is capable in both a 4-2-4 or a 3-4-3. “In both formations we have two central midfielders, only the passing lanes change.” Another familiar face at Coverciano is Lazio teammate Ciro Immobile. “He’s going through a great moment of form, he’s a strong forward with an eye for goal and he’s always had good scoring statistics. We’re all fond of him at Lazio, he’s a key player and we’re happy to have him.”

He scored and put in a great performance against Inter with Ventura watching and Simone Verdi now wants to play his part for the National Team. “It’s true that a point would be enough to make the playoffs in the next two games but we’re playing both to win and go into the draw as one of the top seeds. The important things is to have a certain determination, to do what the coach asks of us. I saw the coach was motivated as ever, we’ve lost some important players but those who’ve come in can do give a hand.”

“At Genoa I played I game where I had to give a lot because this was required of me as we played with two strikers. It was a strange match because I had to do more defensively and I was being man marked. I made myself available for my team and I think that this is something that Ventura liked to see.”

After years of moving around Italy, he seems to have found his element in Bologna. “I arrived at Torino where Ventura and the club really wanted me,” added Verdi. “Then after a tough year in Serie B I returned to Serie A with Torino but I wasn’t ready for the division. I think I’ve grown a lot in these years, Ventura has always believed in me and he expected me to make a leap in quality.”

The final comments where on the generational changes at Italy and Spain. “It’s true that they have Isco and Asensio but Italy also has strong players like Chiesa and Bernardeschi. I don’t think there is that much of a difference.”

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Mattia Perin (Genoa);
Defenders: Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Milan), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Danilo D’Ambrosio (Inter), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Leonardo Spinazzola (Atalanta), Davide Zappacosta (Chelsea);
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Cagliari), Bryan Cristante (Atalanta), Roberto Gagliardini (Inter), Marco Parolo (Lazio);
Wingers: Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Antonio Candreva (Inter), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Simone Verdi (Bologna);
Forwards: Eder Citadin Martins (Inter), Manolo Gabbiadini (Southampton), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Roberto Inglese (Chievo).

Source: figc.it

Italy Schedule

Tuesday 3rd October
13:45 Meeting with the press (players)
16:30 Training (First 15 minutes open to press.)

Wednesday 4th October
13:45 Meeting with press (Players)
16:30 Training (First 15 minutes open to press.)

Thursday 5th October
10:00 Training MD-1  (First 15 minutes open to press.)
16:20 Travel from Florence to Turin
17:45 Walk Around
18:00 Press conference with coach and one player Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino

FYR Macedonia’s  MD-1 Schedule (Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino)
10:00 Training MD-1 at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino (First 15 minutes open to press.)
17:00 Press conference with coach and one player

Friday 6th October
20:45 ITALY vs. FYR MACEDONIA
Meetings with press afterwards

Saturday 7th October
17:00 Training at the  Stadio Filadelfia (open to press)

Sunday 8th October
10:00 Training MD-at Sisport (First 15 minutes open)
15:45 Travel from Turin to Tirana
17:40 Flight lands  in Tirana and transfer toLoro-Boriçi stadium in Shköder (Around 1h 30m)
19:30    Walk Around
20:00    Press conference with coach and one player at Loro-Borici Stadium

Monday 9th October
20:45 ALBANIA vs. ITALY

Meetings to follow and transfer to Tirana airport before flights to Milan and Rome