It was a day for new faces at Coverciano where Italy are preparing for their World Cup qualifier on Friday with Albania in Palermo and the friendly away to the Netherlands. Atalanta’s Andrea Petagna was one player who was surprised with his own call-up as he admitted at Tuesday’s press conference. “I was at the airport, ready to go and join the Under-21 National Team when my manager phoned me,” he began. “It was emotional seeing as this is my first year in Serie A. I thank Gian Piero Ventura and now I’m here to learn. There’s lots of competition as Ciro Immobile is having a great season at Lazio and Andrea Belotti is an unbelievable forward, he’s scored so many goals. I’ve seen his ruthless spirit in training, I have to learn from him how to attack the box.”
It was also the first call-up for Bologna’s Simone Verdi. “I worked a lot with Ventura at Torino,” he added. “I didn’t play much but I was young and it was my fault if I didn’t get much playing time. I was looking for the boss to put me in the team but the team started off well and it wasn’t right to change it. I needed to put some weight on and I needed time but since going to Spain and Carpi I’ve developed and I’m more of a man now.”
Training alongside great players is a source of pride for players such as Verdi. “Up until a few days ago, I only used to see these players on TV,” he went on. “I had Goosebumps when Gigi Buffon came up to greet me. I have to thank all of the coaches from my career as I’ve ended up here for better or for worse. All of them have had some impact on me but special thanks go to Roberto Donadoni. I’ll be 25 soon, I can’t be seen as a young player any more but I have lots of desire to get involved in games and to sweat.”
Leonardo Spinazzola’s form for Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta has been rewarded with a place in the Italy squad as a dream came true. “I learnt that I had been selected from the Atalanta Team Manager after lunch last Saturday,” he said. “I sent my first message to my family and my teammates. It’s thanks to them and the coach that I’m here. I had the fortune of training with great players like Buffon as a Primavera player. For me, he’s a legend and every time I see him I start to laugh because I feel emotional to be there in front of him. I thank Ventura because the earlier training camps helped us get into the Italy set-up and we now know what he wants. My idol is Gianluca Zambrotta, I consider him to be one of the best full-backs in history, he was a winger who then moved back to defence, a bit like myself.”
Lorenzo Insigne also spoke with Rai Sport. “I’m very happy to be here in the Italy team,” he added. “For me, to wear the shirt is a source of pride and every time I’m called up I’m very enthusiastic when I reach Coverciano. It’s always nice to have the chance to train again with past teammates who I still have excellent relationships with such as Marco Verratti and Ciro Immobile. As always, I make myself available to the coach. He still hasn’t said what his decisions are but I will respect every one. We know that the match against Albania is very important because we can go to Spain to play for top spot if we win in Palermo.”
The Azzurri underwent a double training session today. Flu prevented Leonardo Bonucci from training with the rest of the team.
Officials for Italia vs. Albania
Referee: Ilavko Vincic (Slovenia)
Assistants: Tomaz Klancnik (Slovenia) and Andraz Kovacic (Slovenia)
Fourth Official: Matej Jug (Slovenia)
FIFA Match Commissioner: Baiazs Makray (Hungary)
Squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Alex Meret (Spal);
Defenders: Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Danilo D’Ambrosio (Inter), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Alessio Romagnoli (Milan), Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Leonardo Spinazzola (Atalanta), Davide Zappacosta (Torino);
Midfielders: Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Roberto Gagliardini (Inter), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain);
Wingers: Antonio Candreva (Inter), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Nicola Sansone (Villarreal);
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Eder Citadin Martins (Inter), Andrea Petagna (Atalanta), Ciro Immobile (Lazio).
Staff – Coach: Gian Piero Ventura; Team Manager: Gabriele Oriali; Coaches: Salvatore Sullo, Paolo Vanoli and Gianluca Spinelli; Secretary: Mauro Vladovich; Fitness Coaches: Alessandro Innocenti and Giovanni Brignardello; Doctors: Enrico Castellacci and Carmine Costabile; Masseurs: Fabrizio Scalzi, Emanuele Randelli, Alfonso Casano, Pasquale Raia, Walter Martinelli (osteopath).
Schedule
Tuesday 21 March
h. 10.30 Training (behind closed doors)
h. 13.30 ca Meeting with the media (players)
h. 15.30 Training (First 15 minutes open to the media)
Wednesday 22 March
h. 10.30 Training (behind closed doors)
h. 13.30 ca Meeting with the media (players)
h. 15.30 Training (First 15 minutes open to the media)
Thursday 23 March
h. 10.30 Training (First 15 minutes open to the media)
h. 16.00 Departing flight to Palermo from Florence
h. 17.25 Arrive in Palermo and transfer to the stadium
h. 17.45 Walk Around
h. 18.00 Italy press conference(Coach and one player)
h. 18.45 Albania press conference (Coach and one player)
h. 19.30 Albania Training (First 15 minutes open to the media)
Friday 24 March
h. 20.45 QUALIFYING GAME FOR THE 2018 WORLD CUP ITALY-ALBANIA
Meeting the media after the game
Saturday 25 March
h. 11.00 Departing flight for Florence
h. 12.25 Arrive in Florence and transfer to Coverciano
h. 16.00 Training (First 15 minutes open to the media)
Sunday 26 March
h. 10.30 Training (behind closed doors)
h. 13.30 ca Meeting the media (players)
h. 16.00 Training (First 15 minutes open to the media)
Monday 27 March
h. 10.30 Training (behind closed doors)
h. 16.30 Flight from Florence to Amsterdam
h. 18.50 Arrive in Amsterdam and transfer to stadium
h. 19.15 Walk Around
h. 19.30 Press conference (Coach and one player)
The Netherlands’ team schedule
h 12.15 Training session at the AZ Alkmaar Stadium in Alkmaar (first 15 minutes open to media)
Press conference to follow (Coach and one player)
Source: figc.it