The National Beach Soccer Team’s training camp in Terracina has come to an end. And now Head Coach Emiliano Del Duca has selected the twelve players who have made the cut for the European Games in Minsk. The beach soccer tournament will be held from 25 to 29 June. There’s just one change from the side who were crowned European champions last September: the youngster Josep Jr has taken Ramacciotti’s place. Eight of the players in the squad also played in the 2015 Europaean Games in Baku, when Italy finished runners-up.

Most of the players that the Head Coach has placed his trust in currently play for the three clubs that have made particularly good starts to the season in Italy and Europe: Catania, Viareggio and Sambenedettese. The former will be represented by Chiavaro, Corosiniti, Palazzolo, Palmacci and Zurlo, players who are fresh from winning the Coppa Italia in Alghero and who sit top of Serie A on maximum points with their club following the first stage of the season played in Viareggio. Zurlo is the current top scorer in the league with 12 goals. The side who hosted the first part of the league campaign will provide Carpita, Marinai and Gori, the latter of whom is in scintillating form after scoring the most goals in the Coppa Italia and Euro Winners Cup. He currently sits in second place in the top Serie A goalscorers list, with his club also still to drop any points this campaign. The players on Samb’s books who will take part in the European Games are Del Mestre and the youngest player to be called up, Josep Junior. Completing the squad are the attacking players Di Palma (Pisa) and Frainetti (Terracina). The National Team have been placed in Group B and will play their opening game on Tuesday against Ukraine (18:00). It’ll then be time to face Russia (15:30) the day after before their final group fixture against Spain on Thursday 27 June (18:00). The top two sides in Groups A and B will qualify for the semi-finals, which are set to take place on Friday 28 June. The final is pencilled in for Saturday 29 June.

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Andrea Carpita (Viareggio BS), Simone Del Mestre (Sambenedettese BS);
Defenders: Alfio Chiavaro (Catania BS), Francesco Corosiniti (Catania BS);
Outfield: Michele Di Palma (Pisa BS), Alessio Frainetti (BS Terracina), Gentilini Josep Junior (Sambenedettese BS), Simone Marinai (Viareggio BS), Pietro Angelo Palazzolo (Catania BS), Paolo Palmacci (Catania BS);
Forwards: Gabriele Gori (Viareggio BS), Emmanuele Zurlo (Catania BS).

Staff - Head Coach: Emiliano Del Duca; Head of delegation: Massimo Agostini; Accompanying director: Ferdinando Arcopinto; Assistant Coach: Michele Leghissa; Fitness Coach: Paolo La Rocca; Goalkeeping Coach: Antonino Nosdeo; Doctors: Gianluca Fedeli (18-21 June) and Giorgio Bruni (21-30 June); Physiotherapist: Enrico Matera.

Full schedule

Saturday 22 June
12:40 Flight from Fiumicino to Minsk

Sunday 23 June
h. tbc Training

Monday 24 June
h. tbc Training

Tuesday 25 June
18:00 Ukraine vs. Italy

Wednesday 26 June
15:30 Italy vs. Russia

Thursday 27 June
18:00 Italy vs. Spain

Friday 28 June
h. tbc Semi-finals

Saturday 29 June
h. tbc Final

Sunday 30 June
09:45 Flight from Minsk to Fiumicino