The Azzurri manager then turned back to the upcoming task against Germany: “I’m also somewhat sorry that we have to play them now as I would have a liked a few more days to prepare. Instead, we arrived yesterday morning so we only really have had 24 hours which isn’t a lot. But, we’ll approach this game for what it is; an important chance to check things. I know that the result matters in Italy and will influence the judgements made, but the spirit shown and the understanding of the game are just as important to me as the result. We’re looking to take steps forward in these aspects. Tomorrow’s game will give us glance into the future, but it will not determine the future itself.” Without giving too much away after saying that Belotti will play against Germany, Ventura explained that it will be hard to replicate the 4-2-4 used against Liechtenstein: “We’re not afraid of getting thrashed by anybody and we want to win the game if we can. Vaduz showed us that we can play in a different way, but you need time to do so. At the moment those who we can trust most will play, there won’t be a big turnover but just some small changes which will depend on our eventual system. We have to make checks on Candreva and Eder who have small problems. It’s not a game between friends where we can play a totally different side. All the players deserve to be here. If for example, I choose a back three, I’ll have to use somebody who didn’t play Saturday because we will have an extra defender. We have the option to make six substitutions, I’m not saying we’ll make them all but we’ll do something. Either way, we’ll pick our strongest side.” Squad list
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Mattia Perin (Genoa);
Defenders: Luca Antonelli (Milan), Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Alessio Romagnoli (Milan),Armando Izzo (Genoa), Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Davide Zappacosta (Torino);
Midfielders: Danilo Cataldi (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Roberto Gagliardini (Atalanta), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain) Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Giacomo Bonaventura (Milan), Antonio Candreva (Inter), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Matteo Politano (Sassuolo), Nicola Sansone (Villareal).
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Eder Citadin Martins (Inter), Gianluca Lapadula (Milan) Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Leonardo Pavoletti (Genoa), Simone Zaza (West Ham United).
Staff: Head Coach: Gian Piero Ventura; Team Manager: Gabriele Oriali; Assistant Coaches: Salvatore Sullo, Paolo Vanoli and Gianluca Spinelli; Secretary: Mauro Vladovich; Fitness coaches: Alessandro Innocenti and Giovanni Brignardello; Match Analyst: Antonio Gagiardi; Team Doctors: Enrico Castellacci and Carmine Costabile; Physiotherapists/Masseurs: Fabrizio Scalzi, Emanuele Randelli, Alfonso Casano and Pasquale Raia, Walter Martinelli (osteopath); Nutritionist: Matteo Pincella

Italy’s Schedule (All times CET)

Monday 14th November (MD-1)
10:00     Press conference with the manager and one player at Milanello *
11:00     Training at Milanello (Open to the press for the first 15 minutes)
15:30     Training (closed doors)

Germany’s schedule
14:00     Manager’s press conference at the Hotel Meliá
17:30     Training at the G. Meazza Stadium (Open to the press for the first 15 minutes)

Tuesday 15th November (MD)
20:45 ITALY vs. GERMANY Friendly – Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Meetings with the media to follow.

*Entrance to Milanello is only permitted for media sources with accreditation for Italy vs. Germany
 
  ]]>