The return of Roberto Mancini’s Italy side is fast approaching. The Azzurri are hard at work ahead of our first two UEFA Nations League matches of the season, which will see us face Bosnia & Herzegovina and the Netherlands. This afternoon, the Azzurri are completing training on the pitch at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence, where they will be facing Bosnia-Herzegovina on 4 September at 20:45 CEST, a side they beat twice in qualification for EURO 2020, with a 2-1 win in Torino and a 3-0 win in Zenica.

On Friday in Florence, three faces could be set to make their Azzurri debuts, with Alessandro Bastoni in defence, Sassuolo man Manuel Locatelli in midfield, and his Neroverdi teammate Francesco Caputo up front. If the first two, born in 1999 and 1998 respectively, have had their breakout seasons this year, while Ciccio Caputo has received his first call-up at the age of 33, a well-earned reward for the 21 goals he scored in Serie A this season: “I’m chuffed to get this opportunity… I’m the happiest man in the world. You’ve got to keep pursuing your dreams, whatever you’re looking to achieve in life. In Italy there are lots of underrated young players, who need to be pushed to help our national side improve. I’ve been labelled as a typical striker 'from the provinces' for some time now, but it doesn’t bother me: it gives me strength to move forward with my career.”

Alessandro Bastoni had already completed a trial at Coverciano in February 2019 after a call-up from Roberto Mancini. Since then he has grown a lot as a player, so much so that he now features regularly for Inter. In the Europa League final he was Inter’s best player and yesterday, Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini congratulated him on his rapid improvement: “Of course I’d like to thank Chiellini for those kind words, I often watched him play and it has really helped me grow as a player. And as for role models, I have to say I really like Bonucci, the way he defends and how he sets himself up on the pitch: I’ve studied loads of his and Giorgio’s performances.” In addition to Bastoni, there are another five Inter players in the Nerazzurri squad, which is testament to their success this season: “It’s been a great year. I’d like to thank Inter and Coach Conte for putting their trust in me. I did well to earn my place in the team game after game, but I don’t think there are many 20-year-olds who would be put into the team at a side as important as Inter.”

Having earned a place in the Guardian’s “Next Generation 2015” list, which compiled the Top 50 talents born in 1998, on 22 October 2016 Locatelli was at the top of the world when he scored the winner for AC Milan against Juventus. But he has only truly blossomed during his time at Sassuolo, though Manuel has no regrets about how he ended his career with AC Milan. “Every step that I’ve taken has brought me to where I am now, to be the footballer that I am today. At Sassuolo, I’ve transformed as a player. Everyone dreams to wear this shirt, it’s a dream that I had since back when I was playing in my local parish. I want to play well and enjoy every single moment.

The full squad list

Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Cagliari), Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan), Alex Meret (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Torino);

Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Cristiano Biraghi (Inter), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Mattia Caldara (Atalanta), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Danilo D’Ambrosio (Inter), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Luca Pellegrini (Juventus), Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma);

Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Giacomo Bonaventura, Gaetano Castrovilli (Fiorentina), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho* (Chelsea), Roberto Gagliardini (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Stefano Sensi (Inter), Sandro Tonali* (Brescia), Nicolò Zaniolo (Roma);

Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Francesco Caputo (Sassuolo), Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina), Stephan El Shaarawy (Shanghai Shenua), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Moise Kean (Everton), Kevin Lasagna (Udinese), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna).

*Suspended call-ups awaiting the outcome of medical tests once the players' respective isolation requirements are complete.

The schedule (all times CEST):

Saturday 29 August

The group to meet at the Coverciano Federal Training Centre by 23:30

Sunday 30 August

13:45 – Press conference with the Coach at the Coverciano Auditorium 

17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)

Monday 31 August

13:45 – Press conference with a player at the Coverciano Auditorium

17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)

Tuesday 1 September

13:45 – Press conference with a player at the Coverciano Auditorium

17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)

Wednesday 2 September

13:45 – Press conference with a player at the Coverciano Auditorium

17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)

Thursday 3 September

17:00 – Italy’s press conference (Coach and one player) at the Stadio Franchi in Florence (location TBC) 

17:30 - Italy’s training at the Stadio Franchi in Florence (open to the press for the first 15 minutes - location TBC)

18:30 – Bosnia & Herzegovina’s press conference (Coach and one player) at the Stadio Franchi in Florence

19:00 – Bosnia & Herzegovina’s training at the Stadio Franchi in Florence (open to the press for the first 15 minutes)

Friday 4 September

20:45 - Italy vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina (Stadio Franchi in Florence)

Followed by a press conference with the Coach

Saturday 5 September

10:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

17:30 – Transfer Florence to Venice

Sunday 6 September

10:45 – Transfer Venice to Amsterdam

11:00 – The Netherlands’ training at the KNVB Campus (open to the press for the first 15 minutes)

13:15 – The Netherlands’ press conference (Coach and one player) at the KNVB Campus

17:30 - Italy’s press conference (Coach and one player) at the Johan Cruijff ArenA

18:00 – Italy’s training at the Johan Cruijff ArenA (open to the press for the first 15 minutes)

Monday 7 September

20:45 – Netherlands vs. Italy (Johan Cruijff ArenA)

Followed by a press conference with the Coach and the squad’s return to Italy