Marco Verratti was just 19 when he made his National Team debut against England back in August 2012. Six months later, in what was his third appearance, he scored his first goal. Since that day, he’s taken part in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and Euro 2016 qualifying, with a lengthy injury preventing him from participating in the competition itself. 

He made his return to the Azzurri fold under former Head Coach Ventura during qualifying for 2018 World Cup. The rest, as they say, is history. Now, playing alongside Jorginho for Mancini’s Italy, he seems to have found his ideal role: “It’s a style of play where it’s down to both Jorginho and I to trigger build-up play before one must step forward and play a bit in between the lines. The Coach has his idea of passing the ball and then playing in the other half to try to score. It’s gone really well in our last five or six matches, always playing in the same manner. These games gave us confidence and we can say that the experiment succeeded.”

However, Verratti is convinced that this Italy team can keep getting better: “We can improve, we’re a young squad and there’s room for growth. The Coach has created a great group where everyone feels important, we can get Italy back to where they belong. Mancini gave me this confidence and this was important for me. He sees football the same as I do and he puts everyone at ease. I hope to repay his faith.”

Italy are now preparing for two important fixtures, first against Greece in Athens on Saturday (where a minutes’ silence will be held in memory of former UEFA President Lennart Johansson) before the second in Turin against Bosnia Herzegovina: “ The trip to Athens will be really tough. Greece have changed a lot and they play really good football. They are one of our rivals for top spot in the group. We’ve been watching plenty of videos over the past few days and we know that it’s going to be a fiery atmosphere. However, we’ll make sure that we’re ready and I’m sure that we’ll put in a great performance.”

As for the Under-21s upcoming involvement in the European Championship, Verratti wished the Azzurrini all the very best. Previously, he was also involved in the 2013 Euros for the U21s, losing out to Spain in the final: “The Under-21 side today are in a better position now than when I was playing for them because they have experienced players who’re already prepared. I wish all of them good luck in the hope that they can go as far as possible.”

The Azzurri will leave for Athens tomorrow morning before completing a final training session at the OACA Spyros Louis Stadium in the afternoon. As for today’s training, Mancini led a brief video session before the team were then able to enjoy free time at Coverciano.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Cagliari), Pierluigi Gollini (Atalanta); Salvatore Sirigu (Torino), Antonio Mirante (Roma);
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Cristiano Biraghi (Fiorentina), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Mattia De Sciglio (Juventus), Emerson Palmieri (Chelsea), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Armando Izzo (Torino), Gianluca Mancini (Atalanta), Alessio Romagnoli (Milan);
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Cagliari), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Frello Filho Jorge Luiz Jorginho (Chelsea), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Stefano Sensi (Sassuolo), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain), Nicolò Zaniolo (Roma);
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Vincenzo Grifo (Friburgo), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Moise Kean (Juventus), Leonardo Pavoletti (Cagliari), Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria).

Staff – Head Coach: Roberto Mancini; National Team Coordintaor: Gabriele Oriali; Assistant Coaches: Alberico Evani, Attilio Lombardo, Giulio Nuciari, Fausto Salsano; Fitness coaches: Claudio Donatelli and Andrea Scanavino; Goalkeeping coach: Massimo Battara; Match Analyst: Antonio Gagliardi; Doctors: Andrea Ferretti and Carmine Costabile; Physiotherapist: Maurizio Fagorzi, Emanuele Randelli, Fabrizio Scalzi, Luca Lascialfari, Fabio Sannino; Hosteopath: Walter Marinelli; Nutritionist: Matteo Pincella.
Squad schedule and media commitments

Wednesday 5 June
10:00 Training (closed door)
13:30 Press conference (players)
18:30 Training (first 15 minutes open to accredited press)

Thursday 6 June
10:00 Training (closed door)
13:30 Press conference (players)
18:30 Training (closed door)

Friday 7 June
09:00 Transfer to Florence airport
10:00 Flight from Florence to Athens
13:00 l.t.* Arrival and transfer to hotel
17:30 l.t. Press conference MD-1 c/o ‘OACA Spyros Louis Stadium’
18:00 l.t. Training MD-1 c/o ‘OACA Spyros Louis Stadium’ (first 15 minutes open to accredited press)

Saturday 8 June
21:45 l.t. MD3 Greece–Italy - ’Spyros Louis Stadium’

Sunday 9 June
11:00 l.t. Training (closed door)
15:45 l.t. Airport transfer
17:00 l.t. Flight from Athens to Turin
19:00 Arrival and transfer to the hotel

Monday 10 June
17:30 Press conference MD-1 c/o “Juventus Stadium”
18:00 Training MD-1 c/o “Juventus Stadium” (first 15 minutes open to accredited press)
Tuesday 11 June
20:45 MD4 Italy–Bosnia Herzegovina - “Juventus Stadium”