“It’s the last match before Euro 2016, obviously it’s going to be an important test. It will be a way to check if the work we have been doing in the last two and a half weeks has stuck. I also need to see responses from some of the players who are recovering,” these were the first words from head coach Antonio Conte before Italy vs. Finland. “There will be some changes but not loads because we are getting close to Euro 2016 and it’s important to find the right balance. I’m not expecting that it will be a spectacular game because Finland are a very defensive side. Therefore, we will do well to be patient, look to create chances and limit them when they win the ball.”

Photo:  figc.it

It will be the final game before the team travels to France, but also the last game in Italy for the coach before he leaves the national side and moves to England. “I felt a tiny bit of nostalgia today when I left Coverciano, when I left what had been my room for the last two years. Even if I change place, a part of me always remains where I was. The national side did a lot to complete my football knowledge, I had to learn how to optimise my methods in order to transmit ideas to players in a few days.”

It’s a fixture full of subplots as Italy return to Verona where they haven’t played since 1989. “We are happy to be here and we are all looking to spend a great evening together,” said the head coach. The team will leave next Wednesday for France and the day has almost arrived. “We are aware that we have a difficult task ahead of us but nobody wants to turn back,” continued Conte. “We will arrival at the tournament having trained well tactically, technically, physically and having studied videos while giving the team an idea of how to play that involves everyone. We are working well and in a serious way, I’m very happy. We will look to make our own fortunes based on our idea of how to play, our convictions and our style of play.”

Azzurri defender Andrea Barzagli was by Conte’s side for the press conference: “I would have said a while ago that this would be my last experience for the national team and then I didn’t think about it any more. I am focused on Euro 2016, others things don’t matter so much. The key thing is to approach this competition well. I have enjoyed these recent years, I am now of a certain age and this annoys me but I look to enjoy every moment hoping to do well.”

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)

Pre-European Championship training camp and ITALY vs. FINLAND friendly

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
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