Twenty-one Azzurrini have been called up by Under 21 Coach Paolo Nicolato for a pre-European Championship preparation stage that will take place at the Olympic training centre in Tirrenia from Wednesday 19 to Saturday 22 May.

There are six new faces among the group: Cremonese defenders Emanuele Valeri and Nardir Zortea, Vicenza midfielder Jacopo Da Riva, Chievo Verona midfielder Mattia Viviani, Cremonese striker Gianluca Gaetano, and Empoli striker Marco Olivieri, all receiving their first call-ups.

This preparation stage will precede the European Championship adventure by a few days. In fact, on Monday 24th, Coach Nicolato will announce the final list of the 23 Azzurrini who will be included in the squad for the quarterfinal against Portugal on Monday 31 May in Ljubljana. There have been 17 previous meetings between the two teams: Italy have won nine times, while there have been four draws and four defeats.

The semi-final of the European Championship will take place on 3 June in Maribor, and the final will be staged on 6 June in Ljubljana.

Squad list for the preparation stage

Goalkeepers: Carnesecchi Marco (Cremonese), Cerofolini Michele (Reggiana), Plizzari Alessandro (Reggina), Russo Alessandro (Virtus Entella);

Defenders: Bellanova Raoul (Delfino Pescara), Beruatto Pietro (Vicenza), Casale Nicolò (Empoli), Delprato Enrico (Reggina), Okoli Caleb (Spal), Ranieri Luca (Spal), Sala Marco (Spal), Valeri Emanuele (Cremonese), Vogliacco Alessandro (Pordenone), Zortea Nardir (Cremonese);

Midfielders: Esposito Salvatore (Spal), Da Riva Jacopo (Vicenza), Ricci Samuele (Empoli), Viviani Mattia (Chievo Verona);

Forwards: Colombo Lorenzo (Cremonese), Gaetano Gianluca (Cremonese), Olivieri Marco (Empoli).