Marco Carnesecchi is back. After missing the final matches of the qualifying for the European Championship and the first two friendly tests of the season against England and Japan, the goalkeeper - who underwent shoulder surgery last June - is part of the National Under 21 team again, who are preparing for the friendly match on Saturday at 17.30 CET in Cesenatico (not far from Rimini, his hometown) against Germany at the Stadio Del Conero (live coverage on Rai2). 'In Sweden I was in the stands because I wanted to stay close to my teammates,' Carnesecchi recalls. 'For the decisive match against Ireland, however, I watched it from the sofa, and fortunately everything went well. It helped me, during my recovery, to wear the gloves off the pitch thinking 'sooner or later I will put them back on': the injury made me change and grow in so many ways, I am happy to have recovered".

Carnesecchi, who could be captain of the National Under-21 team ('But the coach will decide, both Rovella and I deserve it'), emphasises the importance of the group: 'We spend a lot of time together at the table talking, sometimes we even look intellectual (he jokes). The important thing is to get along well with your teammates, otherwise a long period of retirement starts to feel heavy. This year it's almost up to the younger players to integrate us, given the average age of the group. Tactically speaking, on the other hand, last year's team and this one are very different: in midfield, for example, we have gone from runners like Tonali, Frattesi and Pobega to dribblers like Esposito, Rovella, Fagioli and Miretti'.

After recovering from injury, Carnesecchi is enjoying his first season in Serie A with Cremonese. 'It hasn't sunk in yet,' he explains. 'It was a dream I have had since I was a child, but it still hasn't sunk in. It probably will in a while'. However, while waiting to restart the league season, which sees the Grigiorossi in third-last place, there is the friendly against Germany to prepare for. "It will help us to understand where we are in our journey. It is very stimulating to play friendlies at this level: the more competitive the opponent, the better. We are strong and we know it, measuring ourselves against teams like Germany gives us value and helps us to learn something even if we do lose. Of course, if we manage to win we can gain some confidence before the break. The 2006 World Cup semi-final? I was a child, but my memory is very clear. After the match against Germany, there will only be two more before the European Championship: "Our goal is to prepare for individual matches, then think about the big prize. We want to foster a chemistry, especially off the pitch. When I see the team feeling good together and having fun I am happy: we have to create a strong group.

TICKETS Tickets for Italy vs. Germany can be purchased at Vivaticket sales points and on the websites figc.vivaticket.it and vivaticket.com. There are lower prices and reduced rates for Under 18s. Click HERE for all info.

Squad List

Goalkeepers: Elia Caprile (Bari), Marco Carnesecchi (Cremonese), Stefano Turati (Frosinone);
Defenders: Raoul Bellanova (Inter), Riccardo Calafiori (Basilea), Giorgio Cittadini (Modena), Caleb Okoli (Atalanta), Lorenzo Pirola (Salernitana), Giacomo Quagliata (Cremonese), Matteo Ruggeri (Atalanta), Mattia Viti (Nizza);
Midfielders: Edoardo Bove (Roma), Cesare Casadei (Chelsea), Salvatore Esposito (Spal), Filippo Ranocchia (Monza), Nicolò Rovella (Monza), Filippo Terracciano (Verona), Franco Tongya (Odense);
Attackers: Nicolò Cambiaghi (Empoli), Matteo Cancellieri (Lazio), Lorenzo Colombo (Lecce), Lorenzo Lucca (Ajax), Emanuel Vignato (Bologna), Cristian Volpato (Roma)

Schedule

Wednesday 16 November
10.30 training (closed)
13.30 player press conference (Zoom and in attendance)
16.30 training (open to the press)

Thursday 17 November
10.30 training c/o San Mauro Pascoli (closed)
13.30 player press conference (Zoom and in presence)
16.24 Frecciarossa train departure from Cesena to Ancona and transfer to Hotel Concorde - Camerano (An)

Friday 18 November
13.15 Nicolato press conference (Zoom and in attendance)
15.30 training c/o Stadio Del Conero (open for the first 15')

Saturday 19 November
10.30 muscular awakening
17.30 Stadio Del Conero in Ancona ITALY vs. GERMANY
followed by press conference and disbandment of the delegation