The Azzurri have started preparing for EURO 2016 in Coverciano. “The players who aren’t here and have no games left and can enjoy their vacations,” said manager Antonio Conte during today’s press conference. The first phase will not see the involvement of players involved in domestic cup finals (players from AC Milan, Juventus, Paris Saint Germain, Manchester United and Anderlecht).

On 31st May Conte and will announce the definitive 23-man squad for EURO 2016. Until that day, all potential Azzurri will have the opportunity to convince him they deserve to go to France. “The injuries to Verratti and Marchisio are obviously a big blow for us. We have been working on a formation with two central midfielders and their absence isn’t going to help. We can count on Juventus’ defence though, so we will have to start from there.” Conte also made his stance on Leonardo Bonucci clear, the defender had been called up for the camp, but Juventus decided not to send him: “They had the right to stop him from attending this training camp, so you shouldn't make a big story out of it. I have a good relationship with Juventus.”

The Azzurri coach knows what he is expecting from his players in France: “I need a tight-knit squad at the European Championship. We will work hard to reach the level of fitness and intensity necessary. Everyone who knows me, knows that I am totally focused on the job with Italy. We know it will not be easy, but we will try our best to find the right solutions.”

Conte will have ten days and the friendly against Scotland in Malta on 29th May to make up his mind: “We still have a couple of decisions left to make. We've been monitoring all the players in the squad intensively and we will assess all players at hand. These days will be very important for me and for the squad too.”

Conte also revealed his position on the Calcioscommesse inquest’s verdict that cleared him of any wrongdoing: “I am obviously very relieved. It’s difficult to see it as a happy end though, because the last four years have been terrible. I simply can’t forget the buzz in the media, all those tv programmes, what people said and thought, my home was searched at five in the morning. This experience will scar me for life. I did all I could to finally get to a verdict, and now it’s here.”

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Federico Marchetti (Lazio), Antonio Mirante (Bologna), Marco Sportiello (Atalanta);
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Sassuolo), Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Armando Izzo (Genoa), Angelo Obinze Ogbonna (West Ham), Lorenzo Tonelli (Empoli);
Midfielders: Marco Benassi (Torino), Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Danilo Cataldi (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Lorenzo De Silvestri (Sampdoria), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini (Bologna), Jorge Luiz Jorginho (Napoli), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Roberto Soriano (Sampdoria), Davide Zappacosta (Torino);
Forwards: Fabio Borini (Sunderland), Citadin Martins Eder (Inter), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Leonardo Pavoletti (Genoa), Graziano Pellè (Southampton).

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):

Training camp 18 – 21 May 2016

Wednesday, 18th May 2016
12:00 Meet up in Coverciano
13:30 Press conference (Italy head coach)
16:30 Training session (open to media for the first 15’)

Thursday, 19th 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’)

Friday, 20th 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, 21st May 2016
10:30  Training session (behind closed doors)
Players to return to their respective clubs at the end

***

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

Monday, 23rd May 2016
Announcement of the called-up players in the evening

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

***

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

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