Summer is approaching, and Emilia-Romagna is once again turning Azzurro blue. After hosting two U21 matches in March (Italy vs. Latvia in Cesena on 22 March and Italy vs. Türkiye in Ferrara on 26 March), the same region will today stage Italy Women’s European qualifying match against Norway at 18:15 CEST (Stadio Paolo Mazza in Ferrara) and the Azzurri’s pre-Euro friendly against the Turks at 21:00 (Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in Bologna).

This morning, at the Stadio Dall’Ara, FIGC Deputy Secretary and Head of Revenue, Giovanni Valentini, met with the the Head of the Political Secretariat of the Presidency of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Giammaria Manghi, to renew the partnership agreement from February. The aim is further consolidation by, with the help of Italy’s teams, carrying out tourism-promoting projects, as well as recreational and educational activities with schools and football schools.

NATIONAL TEAMS IN EMILIA-ROMAGNA. In the last few years, Emilia-Romagna has hosted several men’s first-team matches: Italy vs. Lithuania (2022 World Cup qualifying) in Reggio Emilia, Italy vs. Germany and Italy vs. Hungary (June 2022) in Bologna and Cesena in the Nations League. Meanwhile, Italy Women played twice in the region (in Ferrara and Parma) in 2023: Italy vs. Morocco in July and Italy vs. Switzerland in the Nations League in December. Before the two U21 games mentioned above, Italy U20s faced Portugal in Sassuolo in November 2023.

At club level, Emilia-Romagna also staged the women’s Coppa Italia Frecciarossa final on 24 May, when Roma beat Fiorentina on penalties after an exciting clash at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi in Cesena.

‘SFUMATURE D’AZZURRO’ EXHIBITION. Accompanying the Azzurri’s friendly in Bologna is the ‘Sfumature di Azzurro’ (Shades of Blue) exhibition at Palazzo D'Accursio. The exhibition traces the journey of the Italian National Team at the European Championship. A story that begins with the triumph in 1968, remembered through Sandro Salvadore’s jersey and the captain’s armband from the final against Yugoslavia. It continues through the Euros hosted by Italy, in 1980, depicted with Roberto Pruzzo's jersey. Then, there’s a leap to Euro '88, with the tournament ball and the pennant from Italy vs. Spain. Additionally, Vincenzo Montella and Andrea Pirlo’s jerseys serve as a reminder of the finals reached in 2000 and 2012, and then the Azzurri’s most recent continental success, at EURO 2020, is represented by the jersey of Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was voted as the competition’s best player.

Since the European Championship is in Germany, it’s impossible not to mention the World Cup won in 2006 on German soil. The exhibition features unique pieces from that competition such as Francesco Totti's jersey, the pennant from the Germany vs. Italy semi-final, and the ball from the Berlin final against France. The World Cups and European Cups won by the Azzurri will also be exhibited.