Di Biagio will be without Federico Di Francesco for this fixture against the Danes, who they previously lost to 1-0 during a friendly in Matera two years ago. The player has been forced to withdraw from the training camp due to a muscular injury; picking up his knock shortly after he scored Italy’s second goal against England. Prior to this, Andrea Conti bagged an equaliser after some fine wing-play at the St Mary’s stadium, whilst he has also been enjoying a great start to the season with Atalanta: “I am certainly feeling positive ahead of the game against Denmark,” said the defender. “Thursday’s defeat still stings because we put in a decent performance. On a personal level, I am happy to have scored, although the entire team is still disappointed with how the game finished. We are now focused on Denmark, they are a great team and they did well in a very tough qualifying group. As always, we will play to win.”
Conti is just one of the four Atalanta players who now remain in the Under-21 squad, after Roberto Gagliardini was recently selected for the senior side. Interestingly, Monday will see the city of Bergamo host the Azzurrini for the first time in 30 years: “It will be an amazing experience and I can’t wait,” he added. “It will be a great source of pride for me as I appear in the stadium where I play my club football.”
Squad list
Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Benevento), Pierluigi Gollini (Aston Villa);
Defenders: Antonio Barreca (Torino), Davide Biraschi (Genoa), Mattia Caldara (Atalanta), Andrea Conti (Atalanta), Alex Ferrari (Bologna), Adam Masina (Bologna), Michele Somma (Brescia), Davide Vitturini (Pescara);
Midfielders: Marco Benassi (Torino), Leonardo Capezzi (Crotone), Bryan Cristante (Pescara), Alberto Grassi (Atalanta), Luca Mazzitelli (Sassuolo), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Sassuolo);
Forwards: Alberto Cerri (Spal), Luca Garritano (Cesena), Vittorio Parigini (Chievo Verona), Andrea Petagna (Atalanta), Federico Ricci (Sassuolo), Valerio Lorenzo Rosseti (Lugano).
Staff – Delegation Head: Giancarlo Antognoni; Accompanying Director: Vincenzo Marinelli; Head Coach: Luigi Di Biagio; Assitant Coach: Carmine Nunziata; Secretary: Emiliano Cozzi; Goalkeeping Coach: Antonio Chimenti; Fitness Coach: Vito Azzone; Doctors: Angelo De Carli and Luca Gatteschi; Phsyiotherapists: Enzo Paolini and Maurizio Fagorzi; Equipment Manager:Claudio Gagliardi.
Schedule (All times CET unless stated)
Sunday 13th November
13:00 Meeting with the press at the Hotel Winter Garden (coach)
15:30 Training at the Bortolotti sports centre in Zingonia (closed)
Monday 14th November
18:30 ITALY vs. Denmark at the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia – Bergamo. The players and staff will return to their usual bases after all media duties are over
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