Alessandro Florenzi has clear ideas when it comes to the path the National Team are going down and where the final destination needs to be: “This group is very similar to the Azzurri team of five years ago, even if, in my opinion, the current side has more quality. But we must prove this: we have to do better than our quarter-final finish at Euro 2016,” said the full-back during a press conference at Coverciano today.

Florenzi is now more aware of his capabilities: “Personally, I feel like I’m a stronger player compared to the last European Championship. I’ve learnt a lot during the season just gone: entering a changing room made up of great characters made me a better player and has given me the self-confidence to be one. I'm really looking forward to being involved in such a high-level tournament. Things are getting serious now: we can’t wait to begin.”

But what kind of opponent will Italy be up against when they face Turkey at the Stadio Olimpico in the opening UEFA Euro 2020 match?

“We’ll be up against a well-organised side with excellent individuals,” continued Florenzi. “They’ve got players who are good at shooting from distance and are also dangerous from set-pieces, meaning we’ll have to be attentive and avoid conceding free kicks. It’ll be great to return to a stadium where I was able to develop and which gave me so much, even more so with fans finally being in the stands.”

Finally, he gave his thoughts on some of the other teams who will be involved in the upcoming Euros: “I believe that France are the favourites, also because they can count on Mbappé, who is probably the best player in the tournament and probably in the world right now. And I say having trained with him in the past year. However, winning isn’t easy and can never be taken for granted, especially in a competition where the details can make the difference. There are other teams that could challenge France to win the tournament, and we’re one of these sides.”

UEFA Euro 2020 squad list and shirt numbers

Goalkeepers: 21 Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), 26 Alex Meret (Napoli), 1 Salvatore Sirigu (Torino);
Defenders: 15 Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), 23 Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), 19 Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), 3 Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), 2 Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), 13 Emerson Palmieri (Chelsea), 24 Alessandro Florenzi (Paris Saint-Germain), 4 Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma), 25 Rafael Toloi (Atalanta);
Midfielders: 18 Nicolò Barella (Inter), 16 Bryan Cristante (Roma), 8 Frello Jorge Luiz Jorginho (Chelsea), 5 Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), 7 Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), 12 Matteo Pessina (Atalanta), 6 Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain);
Forwards: 9 Andrea Belotti (Torino), 11 Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), 20 Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), 14 Federico Chiesa (Juventus), 17 Ciro Immobile (Lazio), 10 Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), 22 Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo).

Itinerary (all times CEST) 

Tuesday 8 June
**14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

Wednesday 9 June
**14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors) 

Thursday 10 June
11:00 – Florence-Rome transfer
**17:45 – Press conference, Coach + 1 player at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome
*18:30 – Training at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome (behind closed doors except first 15 mins)

Friday 11 June
*11:00 – Training at the Olympic Center Giulio Onesti (behind closed doors)
21:00 – Italy vs. Turkey at the Stadio Olimpico. Press conference/media duties after full-time.

Saturday 12 June
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

Sunday 13 June
** 14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

Monday 14 June
** 14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

Tuesday 15 June
11:00 – Transfer Florence-Rome
**16:45 – Press conference, Coach + 1 player at Hotel Parco dei Principi
*19:15 – Training at the Olympic Center Giulio Onesti (behind closed doors except first 15 mins)

Wednesday 16 June
21:00 – Italy vs. Switzerland at the Stadio Olimpico. Press conference/media duties after full-time. 

Thursday 17 June
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

Friday 18 June
** 14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

Saturday 19 June
11:00 – Transfer Florence-Rome
**16:45 – Press conference, Coach + 1 player at Hotel Parco dei Principi
*19:15 – Training at the Olympic Center Giulio Onesti (behind closed doors except first 15 mins)

Sunday 20 June
18:00 – Italy vs. Wales at the Stadio Olimpico. Press conference/media duties after full-time. 

N.B. Timetables are subject to possible change
* photos will be taken and shared by FIGC 
**media access will be limited to reduced numbers