Watch out for North Macedonia! This is the warning sounded by Roberto Mancini and captain, Giorgio Chiellini on the eve of tomorrow night’s match at the Stadio Renzo Barbera. The next ninety minutes will decide who will progress to the playoff final, with passage to the World Cup at stake. We mustn’t think of Portugal and Turkey yet, nor underestimate a match where there is so much potential to slip up. Tomorrow’s guests beat Germany away from home in the qualifying rounds, so this will not be a walk in the park in Palermo.

The coach is demanding attention, but above all calm and composure, fundamental ingredients in a match: “We start from scratch”, he declared at his press conference earlier “we don't have a result to overturn. They defend well by getting all their players behind the ball, and they won’t give us much space, so if we get caught up in a frenetic game it will become much more difficult. North Macedonia are a good team, despite what some people think. They have good technical qualities and it is no coincidence that they fought to victory against Germany.”

Despite the unavoidable absences of the likes of Spinazzola, Chiesa and Di Lorenzo, Italy will rely on some of the stars that achieved EURO 2020 glory: “We didn't have a lot of time to prepare”, Mancini underlined. “As such, we have tried to stick with the European championship-winning squad. They know each other well and know what they need to do.” According to the bookmakers, Portugal and Italy are the clear favourites in their respective matches, but the coach doesn't think so: “We all start over again and anything can happen in the ninety minutes. You must always play the game in front of you, even when you are supposed favourites.”

Having landed in Palermo in the early afternoon, the Azzurri carried out basic finishing drills on the pitch of the 'Renzo Barbera' stadium, which will be sold out tomorrow with around 33,000 fans expected. Once again, in fact, the city of Palermo responded to the National team’s calls. In the national team’s last 15 games in the Sicilian capital, the record is more than promising, with 13 wins, a draw and just the single defeat: “Palermo has always supported Italy, the public here always turn up and the fact that we return to 100% of the capacity is a massive boost.”

Next to Mancini in the press room was Giorgio Chiellini and the first question is obviously about his physical condition: "I'm fine, I've trained well these days. I managed to recover well and I'm happy to be here. I have no fears or concerns about the injury".

Italy's last goal against North Macedonia was scored by that man, who in October 2017 gave the Azzurri the lead in Turin, before the final equalising goal was scored by former Palermitan, Traijkovski: “Tomorrow we will face a good team”, warns the captain, “that is not here by fluke. We know it won't be an easy task. We’ve all had this match on our minds since November, but the experience allows us to live with it, with a calm mind and without excessive anticipation, which eventually ceases. We have two important games, but we must face them one at a time. Tomorrow there will be a great atmosphere and we are well prepared. We just have to take to the field and try to do what we know we’re capable of. We don’t need a miracle, but we must be ourselves and play with the right composure to achieve the result.” The stakes are undoubtedly very high: “The World Cup is a huge goal and we have thought about it often in recent months. There is great anticipation, so let's enjoy this atmosphere with the enthusiasm that the Palermo crowd will give us.”

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Cagliari), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Pierluigi Gollini (Tottenham), Salvatore Sirigu (Genoa);

Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Cristiano Biraghi (Fiorentina), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Mattia De Sciglio (Juventus), Emerson Palmieri (Lyon), Alessandro Florenzi (Milan), Luiz Felipe (Lazio), Gianluca Mancini (Roma);

Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho (Chelsea), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Matteo Pessina (Atalanta), Stefano Sensi (Sampdoria), Sandro Tonali (Milan), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain);

Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Joao Pedro (Cagliari), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo), Gianluca Scamacca (Sassuolo) Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio), Nicolò Zaniolo (Roma);

Schedule

Wednesday 23 March

10:30 – Transfer from Florence to Palermo

17:30 – Press conference (Italy) at the Stadio Barbera in Palermo (access for journalists***)

18:00 – Training (Italy) at the Stadio Barbera in Palermo (open to the media for first 15 minutes***)

19:00 – Press conference (North Macedonia) at the Stadio Barbera in Palermo (access for journalists***)

19:30 – Training (North Macedonia) at the Stadio Barbera in Palermo (open to the media for first 15 minutes)

Thursday 24 March

20:45 Italy vs. North Macedonia

Followed by press conference and return to Coverciano***

Friday 25 March

16:00 – Training, Campo V. Pozzo (behind closed doors**)

Saturday 26 March

13:45 – Press conference (player), Coverciano Auditorium (access for journalists**)

16:00 – Training, Campo V. Pozzo (behind closed doors**)

Sunday 27 March

13:45 – Press conference (player), Coverciano Auditorium (access for journalists**)

16:00 – Training, Campo V. Pozzo (behind closed doors**)

Monday 28 March

TBC – Transfer to Oporto/Konya

TBC – Press conference (Italy)***

TBC – Training (Italy) (open to the media for first 15 minutes***)

TBC – Press conference (either Portugal or Turkey) (access for journalists***)

TBC – Training (either Portugal or Turkey) (open to the media for first 15 minutes***)

Tuesday 29 March

20:45 – Portugal/Turkey vs. Italy

Followed by press conference and return to Italy

*Depending on capacity, journalists and photographers will be granted access to the press conference and the first 15 minutes of the team’s training session on Monday 21 March

**From Tuesday 22 March, depending on capacity, only journalists will be granted access to press conferences. FIGC will distribute images of press conferences and training to media outlets on request once technical fees have been paid. For info, please contact Massimiliano Reale (FIGC Area Sales): email: m.reale@figc.it Tel.: 06.8491.3023.

***Media activities at the relevant match venues (MD-1 e MD) will be allowed for outlets with accreditation and as per exclusivity agreements with broadcasters. Access to press conferences will be limited depending on capacity.