The U21 national team met up in Rome yesterday ahead of their friendly against Hungary, due to take place in Telki on 12th August. The first training session took place with many players still missing: AS Roma defender Alessio Romagnoli had already joined the group, but withdrew from the squad in order to have a medical ahead of his impending transfer; a further nine players, all of whom were involved in Italian Cup action yesterday, will join the squad this afternoon. Due to injuries suffered at their respective clubs, Garritano (Cesena) and Parigini (Perugia) have left the squad too. The Azzurrini will leave for Telki tomorrow morning. This friendly represents a test ahead of the European Championship qualifiers, which will see Italy get their campaign underway against Slovenia in Reggio Emilia on 8th September. Squad:
Goalkeepers: Cragno (Cagliari), Provedel (Modena), Scuffet (Udinese);
Defenders: Barreca (Cagliari), Calabresi (Livorno), Conti (Atalanta), Fontanesi (Sassuolo), Murru (Cagliari), Somma (Brescia), Venuti (Brescia), Vicari (Novara);
Midfielders: Benassi (Torino), Fazzi (Fiorentina), Gagliardini (Vicenza), Grassi (Atalanta), Mandragora (Pescara), Verre (Udinese);
Forwards: Aramu (Torino), Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Boateng (Bari), Cerri (Juventus), Rosseti (Cesena), Verde (Frosinone).
Head of the delegation: Antognoni
Head coach: Di Biagio
Secretary: Cozzi
Assistant manager: Nunziata
Goalkeeping coach: Chimenti
Fitness coach: Azzone
Doctors: De Carli e Santoriello
Sports masseurs: Paolini e Scalzi
Warehouse workers: Turco e Basile Schedule Monday, 10th August
10:00 CEST            Training session at the Mancini Park Hotel (behind closed doors)
13:15 CEST            Press conference (head coach and players)
17:30 CEST            Training session at the Mancini Park Hotel  (open to the press) Tuesday, 11th August
11:50 CEST           Flight LH 1843 Rome to Munich
14:40 CEST           Flight LH1678 Munich to Budapest
18:00 CEST           Training session at the Telki Sport Center (open to the press for the first 15 minutes) followed by transfer to the Novotel Budapest City Hotel Wednesday, 12th August
21:00 CEST            Friendly match: Hungary U21 vs. Italy U21 at the Telki Sport Center stadium – Telki.
                              Post-match press conference Thursday, 13th August
09:40 CEST          Flight LH1335 Budapest to Frankfurt followed by transfer to respective clubs