The Under-21 side had their final training session at the CPO in Tirrenia today before they head out to Cluj, Romania, tomorrow morning, where they will play their three group games in the European Championships against France, Switzerland and Norway.

With just four days to go before the opener with France, scheduled to take place at the Cluj Arena on Thursday 22 June (20:45 CEST, live on Rai 1), Paolo Nicolato has given an update on the state of the squad: “The formation of the group was even easier than expected because we have lads who have been working with me for several years and everyone has been very receptive and open," said the Head Coach in his press conference. "We're happy together, and although this doesn't guarantee results, it certainly increases the chances. I believe we'll be able to put out a team that is prepared and knows what it must do. Obviously, we'll also have to take into consderation the quality of oppponent, the episodes in a game, the unexpected, but the group has done great work so far, even on a tactical level. Along with the staff, that I must thank, we've been studying well this competition for a few months now. I hope we can experience something great, which is what this job is all about."

The first real test for the Azzurrini will be their opener against France: “After the game with France we'll know a lot more about where we are at. It will be a chance to see what our capabilities are in relation to others. We're facing a strong, strong side, but what counts is that we come out of the game having produced a top performance, which will give us confidence going forward in the tournament." The understanding of the team's own qualities passes to the quality of the opposition: “We're know that we're going to come up against some strong sides. France have a set of high-quality players; Switzerland have 6/7 players that have got caps in their senior side. I understand there's a lot of enthusiasm, but the quality levels will be very high and we'll need to show the right attitude, understanding that the stage we're setting foot on is full of top quality teams.” With regards to formations and tactics, discussions going on are somewhat out-of date: “I hope that in 2023, we still don't believe that it is formations that win you games; those that do are 30 years behind in the times. Football is evolving and going in another direction. There are no right or wrong systems, only ones that can be adapted to the best way for the players available. In our ten qualification games, we played seven with a 4-3-3 system, one with a 4-2-3-1 and two with a 3-5-2. Even in friendly games when the squad numbers were reduced we played 3-5-2, so more or less we 've played half with one set up and the other with another. I've been coaching for 35 years and for 30 of them I played with a back four. 3-5-2 isn't my personal favourite formation, but because we haven't had the wingers available to play different systems and because our defenders all play at clubs with a back three, I've had to go with that at times."

With Carnesecchi decided as the number one (“but we have two other quality goalkeepers that give us further squad depth”), and ahead of Gnonto's arrival (“we accepted him to come and join us at the last minute because he has quality, and I see him as a centre-forwad and not out wide”), Nicolato has found a determined and motivated Pellegri after many injuries: “Pietro deserves to put on and represent the Azzurri shirt; he's giving everything he has and is feeling good, although he hasn't played a full 90 minutes for a long time unfortunately. I'm expecting a lot from him." The same can be said for the front line, who are lacking minutes in general: "Apart from Cambiaghi, the rest haven't played much. If there is one slight unknown it's regarding the attacking department and over the three games this might be a problem to solve."

In conferenza stampa anche Giorgio Cittadini was also in the press conference speaking about how he is preparing for and experiencing his first European Championships. The 2002-born defender, brought up through the ranks at Atalanta and coming off the back of a very positive season in Serie B with Modena, has made only two Under-21 appearances so far but has all the quality to make himself a mainstay in the team. He is comfortable in both a back three or four, despite characteristics of a basketball player (193 centrimetres tall), and has good technical quality and ball possession skills, qualities that Head Coach Mancini noticed after calling him up to a training camp last December dedicated for players of national interest: “It was memorable experience, training at Coverciano with Mancini and his staff. It makes you very proud and repays all the many sacrifices made. I've had a great season and the call-up to this Under-21 squad is the icing on the cake. It's also a great window to put myself in, as it might open up the way to Serie A. I can't wait to show what I can do." 

Cittadini is also confident in the squad's ability: “We can win the Euros. We've got a group group of players and we're really happy together both on and off the pitch. We have the quality and will face a great team in France first, but also we want to show what a good team we are too."

Azzurrini squad numbers for the Under 21 European Championships

Goalkeepers: 19 Elia Caprile (Bari), 1 Marco Carnesecchi (Cremonese), 22 Stefano Turati (Frosinone)
Defenders: 12 Raoul Bellanova (Inter), 20 Andrea Cambiaso (Bologna), 14 Giorgio Cittadini (Modena), 6 Matteo Lovato (Salernitana), 15 Caleb Okoli (Atalanta), 3 Fabiano Parisi (Empoli), 5 Lorenzo Pirola (Salernitana), 2 Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), 13 Destiny Iyenoma Udogie (Udinese);
Midfielders: 16 Edoardo Bove (Roma), 7 Salvatore Esposito (Spezia), 21 Fabio Miretti (Juventus), 4 Samuele Ricci (Torino), 10 Nicolò Rovella (Monza), 8 Sandro Tonali (Milan);
Forwards: 23 Nicolò Cambiaghi (Empoli), 18 Matteo Cancellieri (Lazio), 9 Lorenzo Colombo (Lecce), 17 Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds), 11 Pietro Pellegri (Torino).