Exams never really finish, rather they are still yet to come. However, with one week until the Euros get underway, Italy passed with flying colours following a 4-0 win over the Czech Republic. The Azzurri showed that they are ready for that opening match against Turkey, who represent the first obstacle in the dream to go far in the tournament, and perhaps even all the way to the final at Wembley on 11 July. In Bologna, against a decidedly stronger opposition than San Marino and a team that is going to next week’s tournament, the Azzurri recorded their eight consecutive win and also their 27th game without defeat (22 wins and five draws), confirming that the rhythm and link-up in the team never went away. They certainly made the most of the wingers’ ability to take on the defender, an inspired Insigne and a goal-hungry Ciro Immobile. The Lazio forward got himself on the scoresheet along with Barella, Insigne and Berardi in a game that Italy never looked like losing. What a way to prepare for the game in seven days at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

THE GAME. If the game against San Marino was to put the remaining places in the squad up for grabs, this friendly against the Czech Republic was a real and proper test in view of the Turkey match. The outlook on the opposition was also far different as the Czech are ranked 40th in the world and are among the 24 finalists at the Euros, where they were drawn into Group D with England, Croatia and Scotland. So it is normal, as advertised by Mancini in his pre-match press conference, that the team tonight was similar to the starting XI for 11 June. Bonucci and Chiellini returned at the heart of defence in front of Donnarumma, with Florenzi and Spinazzola occupying the full-back positions.  With Verratti still out and following Sensi’s departure from the squad, Mancini opted for a deep-lying midfield pair of Jorginho and Locatelli with Barella ahead of them in support of the attacking trio, which was tonight formed of Insigne, Immobile and Berardi.

The guests lined up in a 4-2-3-1 with Kremencik preferred up top to former Roma man Patrik Schick. The Czech Republic pressed high during the opening salvoes of the match and showed that they had absolutely no intention of just dropping deep and defending. Italy struggled to get into their usual rhythm early on, though they created a half-chance as Insigne fed Immobile, who fired well off target. The 18th minute brought a moment of panic for the Italy camp as Bonucci went down clutching his knee. The veteran centre-back came off the pitch for treatment but returned to the field of play after a couple of minutes. This minor break made way, five minutes later, for the Italy opener through Ciro Immobile, who latched onto a loose ball in the box, beat Celustka and rifled it past Pavlenka at his near post. This was Ciro’s 13th goal for his country. The goal boosted the Azzurri’s confidence and came close to doubling their lead again through Immobile but he headed just wide. As the minutes went by, the impact of Spinazzola and Berardi down the flank became increasingly more apparent and, as the half drew to a close, Barella’s deflected effort nestled in the back of the net to make it 2-0 to Italy.

The entrance of Schick at halftime changed very little in terms of the flow of the game as the Azzurri were alert at the back and switched on following the two-goal lead. The Azzurri thrice went close to a third in the first 15 minutes of the second half: Berardi’s free-kick was saved by Pavlenka, and then Insigne and Chiellini narrowly missed. Mancini wrung the changes, bringing off Jorginho, Spinazzola and Chiellini to be replaced by Cristante, Emerson and Acerbi. Insigne put the cherry on top of the cake on his 30th birthday as he slotted past the ‘keeper in a one-on-one (66’). The Azzurri kept up the pressure and, before too long, made it four through Berardi, who lifted it over Pavlenka. Chiesa, Toloi and Giacomo Raspadori - the latter to make his debut - came on before full time.

Itinerary (all times CEST) 

Saturday 5 June
*11:00 – Training match vs. Italy Under-20s (behind closed doors)
Sunday 6 June
By 22:00, meet-up at the Coverciano Federal Technical Centre

Monday 7 June
**14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

Tuesday 8 June
**14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

Wednesday 9 June
**14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors) 

Thursday 10 June
11:00 – Florence-Rome transfer
**17:45 – Press conference, Coach + 1 player at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome
*18:30 – Training at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome (behind closed doors except first 15 mins)

Friday 11 June
*11:00 – Training at the Olympic Center Giulio Onesti (behind closed doors)
21:00 – Italy vs. Turkey at the Stadio Olimpico. Press conference/media duties after full-time.

Saturday 12 June
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

Sunday 13 June
** 14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

Monday 14 June
** 14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

Tuesday 15 June
11:00 – Transfer Florence-Rome
**16:45 – Press conference, Coach + 1 player at Hotel Parco dei Principi
*19:15 – Training at the Olympic Center Giulio Onesti (behind closed doors except first 15 mins)

Wednesday 16 June
21:00 – Italy vs. Switzerland at the Stadio Olimpico. Press conference/media duties after full-time. 

Thursday 17 June
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

Friday 18 June
** 14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

Saturday 19 June
11:00 – Transfer Florence-Rome
**16:45 – Press conference, Coach + 1 player at Hotel Parco dei Principi
*19:15 – Training at the Olympic Center Giulio Onesti (behind closed doors except first 15 mins)

Sunday 20 June
18:00 – Italy vs. Wales at the Stadio Olimpico. Press conference/media duties after full-time. 

N.B. Timetables are subject to possible change
* photos will be taken and shared by FIGC 
**media access will be limited to reduced numbers