The players not involved in yesterday’s action held a full training session, while the others conducted a light session, but the whole squad is aware that they will have to make up for the bad start if they don’t want to leave Czech Republic sooner than expected. The day after, Stefano Sturaro offered his apology after leaving his team a man down following a reaction towards an opponent: “I would like to publicly apologize to the team, the staff and to all the fans,” commented the Juventus midfielder at today’s press conference, “maybe I don’t deserve to wear this shirt and I feel like I have contributed to yesterday’s loss. I accept criticism, but at the same time I’m fully aware of what I can give to this team.”
There is a lot of disappointment among the Azzurrini; the match was going in the right direction after Berardi’s successful penalty and the subsequent extra man, but Italy were not able to take advantage. The Azzurrini now need to be able to look forward if they want to keep their hopes of getting through to the semi-finals intact: “We’ve wasted a great chance as we lost our mind, me most of all. It’s quite obvious that if a match goes in a certain direction, you start getting tense,” continued Sturaro, “but I don’t think that we have to change our mindset. We have always managed to get up again after difficult moments. We’re a tight-knit group, we now have to analyze our mistakes and avoid making them again.”
Schedule, results and Group B table
18th June ITALY 1-2 Sweden
18th June England 0-1 Portugal
21st June ITALY vs. Portugal
21st June Sweden vs. England
24th June ITALY vs. England
24th June Portugal vs. Sweden
Table: Sweden and Portugal 3 points, England and ITALY 0
Squad numbers:
Goalkeepers: 1 Bardi (Chievo Verona), 20 Leali (Cesena), 14 Sportiello (Atalanta);
Defenders: 12 Barba (Empoli), 13 Bianchetti (Spezia), 3 Biraghi (Chievo Verona), 17 Izzo (Genoa), 6 Romagnoli (Sampdoria), 5 Rugani (Empoli), 2 Sabelli (Bari), 22 Zappacosta (Atalanta);
Midfielders: 16 Baselli (Atalanta), 18 Battocchio (Virtus Entella), 15 Benassi (Torino), 21 Cataldi (Lazio), 4 Crisetig (Cagliari), 8 Sturaro (Juventus), 7 Viviani (Latina);
Forwards: 9 Belotti (Palermo), 10 Berardi (Sassuolo), 11 Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), 19 Trotta (Avellino), 23 Verdi (Empoli).
Italy’s schedule
Saturday, 20th June
19:45 CEST Press conference at the “City Stadium” in Uherske Hradiste
20:30 CEST Light workout session at the “City Stadium” in Uherske Hradiste (MD-1).
Sunday, 21st June
20:45 CEST ITALY vs. PORTUGAL, “City Stadium” in Uherske Hradiste
Press conference to follow
Monday, 22nd June
11:00 CEST Training session at the C.S. Holice, in Olomouc
13:15 CEST Press conference at the “S-port Veska” Hotel in Olomouc (players)
Tuesday, 23rd June
18:45 CEST Press conference at the “Ander Stadium” in Olomouc
19:30 CEST Light workout session at the “Ander Stadium” in Olomouc (MD-1).
Wednesday, 24th June
20:45 CEST ENGLAND vs. ITALY, “Ander Stadium” in Olomouc
Press conference to follow
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