“We couldn’t afford to slip up and had everything to lose. However, perhaps we could have done even better in terms of how we played and pressed. Nevertheless, we can’t ask for too much.” This is what Alberico Evani, who took Roberto Mancini’s place in the Azzurri dugout this evening, had to say following Italy’s 4-0 win over Estonia.

The former Italy Under-20 Head Coach then continued, clearly pleased with the performance produced by the Azzurri and the team’s youngsters this evening: “We did what we needed to do, it wasn’t easy against this team. The human quality within this group is extraordinary. This evening, five lads made their debuts, some of whom I’ve previously worked with. This is really satisfying. Now, we’re looking forward to having Mancini back for our upcoming Nations League matches.”

Evani then revealed Vialli’s role during the match: “This evening, Gianluca did what I usually do when Mancini is in the dugout.”

Riccardo Orsolini scored his second Azzurri goal against Estonia, making it 4-0 from the penalty spot. “I already consider myself lucky,” said the Bologna player. “Just being here is fantastic enough, let alone scoring. I asked Grifo if I could take the first penalty, but he told me to swing by later on. So when the referee awarded the second spot-kick, I took the ball and converted it.” It’s a goal that certainly won’t do him any harm as he looks to fulfil a dream: “The European Championship? I know full well that it won’t be easy, but I hope to give the Coach a selection headache and ultimately make it into the squad. I know that it depends on what I do with Bologna, I work hard every day in order to ensure that I’m ready when these opportunities come along. In the last few years, Italian football has taken on a different mentality: there’s more focus on young players and it’s easier to make it into the first team now.”

Meanwhile, Salvatore Sirigu, who was Italy’s captain against Estonia, got to enjoy the win as mostly a spectator, with the Azzurri goalkeeper having very little to do: “This is a solid and very strong group. It’s always difficult to make your Italy debut, but we try to put everyone at ease. It’s vital to have a footballing philosophy, even if it’s never easy. Wearing the captain’s armband was fantastic, I’m happy for my family and all those who care about me. I’m also happy for Torino: it’s been a long time since a Granata player has worn it. There are a lot of players in contention to start: Bastoni, for example, is one of them.”

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Cagliari), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Alex Meret (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Torino);
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio)*, Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Cristiano Biraghi (Fiorentina)**, Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Davide Calabria (Milan), Danilo D’Ambrosio (Inter), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Emerson Palmieri Dos Santos (Chelsea), Gian Marco Ferrari (Sassuolo), Alessandro Florenzi (Paris Saint-Germain), Luca Pellegrini (Genoa), Alessio Romagnoli (Milan);
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter)*, Gaetano Castrovilli (Fiorentina)**, Roberto Gagliardini (Inter), Frello Jorge Luiz Jorginho (Chelsea), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Matteo Pessina (Atalanta), Roberto Soriano (Bologna), Sandro Tonali (Milan), Mattia Zaccagni (Verona);
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Federico Chiesa (Juventus)*, Stephan El Shaarawy (Shanghai Shenua), Vincenzo Grifo (Freiburg), Ciro Immobile (Lazio)**, Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Moise Bioty Kean (Paris Saint Germain), Kevin Lasagna (Udinese), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Pietro Pellegri (Monaco).

* time of arrival TBC
** will only join up with the squad after receiving permission from the relevant health authorities

Schedule (all times CET)

Thursday 12 November
15:30 – Training (behind closed doors) at the Federal Technical Centre in Coverciano

Friday 13 November
13:45 – Press event (players) in the auditorium of the Federal Technical Centre in Coverciano

16:00 – Training (behind closed doors) at the Federal Technical Centre in Coverciano

Saturday 14 November
11:30 – Journey from Florence to Reggio Emilia
16:30 – Poland press conference at the Stadio Città del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia
17:00 – Poland training session (media access for the first 15 minutes) at the Stadio Città del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia
18:00 – Italy press conference at the Stadio Città del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia
18:30 – Italy training session (media access for the first 15 minutes) at the Stadio Città del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia

Sunday 15 November
20:45 – ITALY vs. Poland (post-match press event and subsequent return to the Federal Technical Centre in Coverciano

Monday 16 November
16:30 – Training session (behind closed doors) at the Federal Technical Centre in Coverciano

Tuesday 17 November
10:45 – Journey from Florence to Sarajevo
16:30 – Bosnia & Herzegovina press conference at the Grbavica Stadium in Sarajevo
17:00 –Bosnia & Herzegovina training session (media access for the first 15 minutes) at the Grbavica Stadium in Sarajevo
17:30 – Italy press conference at the Grbavica Stadium in Sarajevo
18:00 – Italy training session (media access for the first 15 minutes) at the Grbavica Stadium in Sarajevo

Wednesday 18 November
20:45 – Bosnia & Herzegovina vs. ITALY post-match press event and subsequent return to Italy