The atmosphere is relatively calm, but you can feel the utmost concentration in the player’s comments. Centre-backs Rugani (Empoli) and Romagnoli (Sampdoria) talked to the press today. Both of them made their debuts for the team in a European qualifier against Northern Ireland on 5th March 2014, “We’re ready to build something important,” commented Rugani “We’ve grown a lot in the past two years. I’m sure we will have our say; we’re in a very tough group and we are not among the favourites, but rest assured that we will match every other team. This European Championship will be an unforgettable experience, I’m very happy to be part of the squad taking part in it. My aim is to stay focussed and win this tournament.”
Alessio Romagnoli showed the same mindset: “Our coach is making us work a lot in these last few days and it’s right so, so that we can be ready for the opener against Sweden. We have not yet spoken about our opponents and we will start studying them next week.”
Romagnoli earned his spot among the starters at Sampdoria under manager Mihajlovic and played a brilliant season: “I owe my manager a lot. This year at Sampdoria helped me a lot, made me better and now I’m ready to play a great European Championship.”
The preparation of the U21s will continue until Sunday, when coach Di Biagio will announce the 23-man squad for the EUROs. The players will then have a two day rest before meeting up again in Appiano Gentile on Tuesday 9th June.
The team will leave for the Czech Republic on 15th June and will play their opening match of the tournament against Sweden at the Ander Stadium in Olomouc on 18th June (18:00 CEST). Italy will then take on Portugal at the City Stadium in Uherske Hradiste on 21st June (20:45 CEST), before facing England in the last match of the group stage in Olomouc on 24th June (20:45 CEST). Squad
Goalkeepers: Bardi (Chievo Verona), Leali (Cesena), Sportiello (Atalanta);
Defenders: Barba (Empoli), Bianchetti (Spezia), Biraghi (Chievo Verona), Izzo (Genoa), Murru (Cagliari), Romagnoli (Sampdoria), Rugani (Empoli), Sabelli (Bari), Zappacosta (Atalanta);
Midfielders: Baselli (Atalanta), Battocchio (Virtus Entella), Benassi (Torino), Cataldi (Lazio), Crisetig (Cagliari), Dezi (Crotone), Sturaro (Juventus), Verre (Perugia), Viviani (Latina);
Forwards: Belotti (Palermo), Berardi (Sassuolo), Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Longo (Cagliari), Trotta (Avellino), Verdi (Empoli).
 
Italy’s schedule
Thursday, 4th June
10:30 CEST Training session (open to the press)
13:15 CEST  Press conference at the C.S. “A.Moratti” (players) Friday, 5th June
10:30 CEST  Training session (behind closed doors)
17:00 CEST  Training session (behind closed doors) Saturday, 6th June
16:30 CEST  Training session (behind closed doors) Sunday, 7th June
10:30 CEST Test match “U21s vs. Inter Youth team” at the C.S. “A. Moratti” (open to the press)
press conference with the head coach will follow
16:00 CEST  Announcement of the 23-man squad for the EUROs
End of the first part of the training camp Tuesday, 9th June
12:30 CEST  Meet-up at the C.S. “A. Moratti” –  Appiano Gentile (CO)
17:00 CEST  Training session (behind closed doors) Wednesday, 10th June
10:30 CEST  Training session (open to the public)
13:15 CEST Press conference at the C.S. “A.Moratti”  (players)
17:00 CEST Training session (behind closed doors) Thursday, 11th June
10:30 CEST  Training session (behind closed doors)
17:00 CEST  Training session (behind closed doors) Friday, 12th June
17:00  CEST Test match at the C.S. “A. Moratti” (aperta Stampa)
a press conference with the head coach will follow Saturday, 13th June
10:30 CEST Training session (behind closed doors)
14:00 CEST  Official photo of the team Sunday, 14th June
10:30 CEST  Training session (behind closed doors)
17:00 CEST  Training session (behind closed doors) Monday, 15th June
10:30 CEST  Training session (behind closed doors)
17:00 CEST  Flight AB Milan/Vienna and transfer to the “S-port Veska” hotel in Olomouc Tuesday, 16th June
13:15 CEST  Press conference at the “S-port Veska” Hotel in Olomouc (players)
18:00 CEST  Training session at the C.S. Holice, in Olomouc – (behind closed doors) Wednesday, 17th June
16:30  CEST Press conference at the “Ander Stadium” in Olomouc
17:30 CEST  Light workout session at the “Ander Stadium” in Olomouc one day before Matchday (MD-1). Thursday, 18th June
18:00 CEST              ITALY vs. SWEDEN, “Ander Stadium” in Olomouc
Press conference to follow Friday, 19th June
11:00 CEST Training session at the C.S. Holice, in Olomouc – (behind closed doors)
13:15 CEST   Press conference at the “S-port Veska” Hotel in Olomouc (players) 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 one day before Matchday (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 one day before Matchday (MD-1). Wednesday, 24th June
20:45 CEST ENGLAND vs. ITALY, “Ander Stadium” in Olomouc
Press conference to follow
1)    In case of elimination from the tournament (4th placement in the group)
Thursday, 25th June
8:00 CEST    Transfer to Vienna’s airport
12:00 CEST  Flight AZ Vienna/Rome Fco 2)    In case of qualification to the semi-finals as runners-up in the group
Thursday, 25th June
10:00 CEST  Transfer to Prague at the “Hotel International” 3)    In case of qualification to the semi-finals as group winners
The team will stay at the S-port Veska Hotel in Olomouc
Saturday,  27th June
18:00 CEST              WB  vs RUA, “Ander Stadium” in Olomouc 4)    In case of qualification playoff for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro (3rd place in the group and England amongst the first two)
The team will stay at the S-port Veska Hotel in Olomouc
Sunday, 28th June
18:00 CEST  3RDA  vs 3RDB  “City Stadium” in Uherske Hradiste
FINAL: 30th JUNE AT THE “EDEN STADIUM” IN PRAGUE (20:45 CEST)   ]]>