Benassi hopes to soon break into Ventura’s Azzurri squad, having got to know the coach well at Torino: “To be called up for the senior side is everyone’s dream. I’m looking to work at my best this week and when I play for the U-21s, I always give everything. I’m struck when I see Ventura as the Italy coach, it was right to give him this opportunity both for his qualities as a coach and as a human being. He’s a really wonderful person.”
 
The U-21 team leave for Vicenza tomorrow and the match against Serbia will be officially presented in the Sala degli Stucchi at the Palazzo Trissino at 12:30 on Thursday in a press conference with mayor Achille Variati and Vicenza Calcio CEO Andrea Gazzoli.
 
The photos shows Benassi speaking with Luigi Di Biagio Squad list Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Benevento), Alex Meret (Spal), Simone Scuffet (Udinese);
Defenders: Davide Biraschi (Avellino), Arturo Calabresi (Brescia), Davide Calabria (AC Milan), Mattia Caldara (Atalanta), Andrea Conti (Atalanta), Adam Masina (Bologna), Nicola Murru (Cagliari), Filippo Romagna (Juventus);
Midfielders: Marco Benassi (Torino), Danilo Cataldi (Lazio), Alberto Grassi (Napoli), Luca Mazzitelli (Sassuolo); Lorenzo Pellegrini (Sassuolo), Valerio Verre (Pescara);
Forwards: Domenico Berardi* (Sassuolo), Alberto Cerri (Spal), Federico Di Francesco (Bologna), Luca Garritano (Cesena), Gaetano Monachello (Bari), Vittorio Parigini (Chievo Verona), Federico Ricci (Roma), Valerio Lorenzo Rosseti (Lugano). *unavailable through injury
 
Staff – Head of Delegation: Giancarlo Antognoni; Accompanying Director: Vincenzo Martinelli; Head Coach: Luigi Di Biagio; Assistant Coach: Carmine Nunziata; Secretary: Emiliano Cozzi; Goalkeeping Coach: Antonio Chimenti; Fitness Coach: Vito Azzone; Team Doctors: Angelo De Carli and Luca Gatteschi; Physiotherapists: Enzo Paolini, Guido Mauro Ferrini and Maurizio Fagorzi; Kitmen: Claudio Gagliardi and Andrea Russo. Group 2 Table – ITALY 19 points, Slovenia 15, Serbia 13, Republic of Ireland 9, Andorra and Lituania 3 Schedule Tuesday 30th August
10:00   training (behind closed doors)
13:15   meeting with the press (players)
17:00   training (open to press) Wednesday 31st August
10:00  training (behind closed doors)
15:50  train from Rome to Padua and transfer to Vicenza Thursday 1st September
12:30 Press conference at Vicenza Council Chambers (coach)
16:30 Training at the Stadio Romeo Menti in Vicenza (first 15’ open to press)
           
Friday 2nd September
18:30 ITALY-SERBIA at the Stadio Romeo Menti in Vicenza      
Meeting with press at full-time followed by return to hotel Saturday 3rd September
10:30 training at the Stadio in Caldogno (behind closed doors) Sunday 4th September
10:30 training at the Stadio in Caldogno (open to the public)
16:30 transfer to Hotel Europa in La Spezia Monday 5th September
12:30 Press Conference at La Spezia Council Chambers (coach)
17:30 training at the Stadio Alberto Picco in La Spezia (first 15’ open to press) Tuesday 6th September
18:30 ITALY-ANDORRA at the Stadio Alberto Picco in La Spezia. Meeting with press at full-time followed by return of players to their clubs.
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