Local sports assessor Umberto Nicolai, Vicenza’s mayor Achille Variati and Vicenza Calcio chairman Gian Luigi Polato attended the event. FIGC were represented by head of the delegation Giancarlo Antognoni and by organisational supervisor of all youth, women’s, futsal and beach soccer teams Giorgio Bottaro. “These events,” explained Antognoni and Bottaro, “are not only about the 90 minutes on the pitch. The Federation are organising a series of initiatives that involve the cities playing host to the events. In Vicenza, we will hold a meeting with the students from the local “Istituto Comprensivo” in order to discuss subjects like fair play on and off the pitch: It’s the Federation’s priority to encourage such positive values.”
Vicenza’s mayor Achille Variati showed all the city’s appreciation for the visit by the U21 side: “We’ve been waiting for the U21 national team since 2005,” he commented, “Vicenza has an important sporting tradition and when the Federation contacted us about this possibility we accepted enthusiastically. I’m sure that Vicenza will have a great reception for this event, both from a sporting and social point of view. To see a lot of Italian flags in the stadium helps our country to stand united and football plays a major role in that too.”
Vicenza Calcio chairman Gian Luigi Polato agreed with what the mayor said and assured that the club is doing their best in order to ensure a venue worthy of an Italian national team: “We’ve immediately started preparations to host this U21 European qualifier in the best way possible.”
The Azzurrini will depart for Slovenia tomorrow, where they’ll face the hosts in Koper on Thursday 8th October (18:30 CET). The team will head back to Italy after the match and will prepare for two days in Cormons ahead of the clash against the Republic of Ireland, which is due to take place at the Stadio Romeo Menti in Vicenza on Tuesday, 13th October (17:00 CET).
 
Schedule (all CET times)
Monday, 5th October
16:30 – Training session (behind closed doors) Tuesday, 6th October
10:00 – Training session (behind closed doors)
13:00 – Press conference at the hotel (players)
16:30 – training session (open to media)
21:25 – Flight AZ Fco/Trieste Ronchi dei Legionari and transfer to Slovenia at the “Hotel San Bernardin” –   (Koper) Wednesday, 7th October
12.45 – Press conference at the hotel (head coach)
18.30 – MD-1 training session at the SRC Bonifika stadium – Koper (open to media for the first 15’) Thursday, 8th October
18:30 Euro qualifier Slovenia vs. Italy – “SRC Bonifika” Stadium – Koper
Press conference after the match and transfer to “Felcaro” Hotel in Cormons Friday, 9th October
11:00 – Training session at the Stadio Comunale in Cormons (open to media) Saturday, 10th October
10.00 – Training session at the Stadio Comunale in Cormons (behind closed doors)     
17:00 – Training session in Cormons Sunday, 11th October
10.00 – Transfer to Vicenza at the “Tiepolo” Hotel
13.00 – Press conference at the hotel
16.30 – Training session at the stadio Comunale in Caldogno – Vicenza (open) Monday, 12th October
18.00 –   Press conference at the Stadio “Romeo Menti” in Vicenza (head coach)
19.00 – MD-1 training session at the Stadio “Romeo Menti” in Vicenza (open to the media for the first 15’) Tuesday, 13th October
17.00 Euro qualifier Italy vs. Republic of Ireland – Stadio “Romeo Menti” – Vicenza
Press conference after the match, followed by return of the players to their respective clubs.   ]]>