What a five days. From making his Serie A debut with Fiorentina against Genoa on 1 September, to featuring for the Under-21s for the first time on 6 September in a 4-0 friendly victory over Moldova in Catania, Luca Ranieri will never forget those first five days of September 2019. He has earned the respect of Montella and Nicolato as well as that of teammate Gaetano Castrovilli who had plenty of praise for him: “Sottil and Ranieri are two excellent players for the Under-21s: I hope that they’ll also get a call-up to the senior team soon.”

These compliments have not distracted Ranieri however, who remains focused on the goal of reaching the U21 European Championship. He gave his thoughts on the upcoming match in Ferrara where the U21’s with take on their contemporaries from Iceland: “We’ve got another difficult match ahead of us, we don’t know these teams very well and we’re trying to prepare as best as we can. We’re training well in a very calm environment so I’m sure that we’ll get all three points.”

First Iceland then Armenia on 19 November, again in Catania. 180 minutes which the Azzurrini can use to extend their lead in the group. “Being together for a week, being in contact every day increases our confidence and we’ve got to know each other much more. The National Team is very important to me; I don’t want to miss any out on any opportunities. I’ve represented Italy ever since I first played for the U17s. I was then a part of the U20 team that competed at the World Cup in Poland. We’ve all been promoted from that team to the U21s, so now I’m here I just hope that I can play again.”

Some goals are more immediate, some are more long-term. Ranieri confessed: “The senior National Team remains one of my life goals. It’s every kid’s dream. I keep training every day in the hope that one day I’ll be able to fulfil this dream.”

The Azzurrini had a double training session at the Municipal Stadium of Abano Terme toda. Cagliari defender Luca Pellegrini took a slight knock to his right ankle during yesterday’s training session and Coach Nicolato called up Alessandro Tripadelli as a precautionary measure.

Squad List

Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Trapani), Mattia Del Favero (Piacenza), Alessandro Plizzari (Livorno);

Defenders: Claud Adjapong (Hellas Verona), **Nicolò Casale (Venezia), Davide Bettella (Pescara), Enrico Delprato (Livorno), Matteo Gabbia (Milan), Luca Pellegrini (Cagliari), Luca Ranieri (Fiorentina), Marco Sala (Virtus Entella), Alessandro Tripaldelli (Sassuolo);

Midfielders: Marco Carraro (Perugia), Davide Frattesi (Empoli), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Giulio Maggiore (Spezia), Fabio Maistro (Salernitana), *Salvatore Esposito (Chievo Verona), Niccolò Zanellato (Crotone);

Forwards: Patrick Cutrone (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Moise Bioty Kean (Everton), Andrea Pinamonti (Genoa), Gianluca Scamacca (Ascoli), Riccardo Sottil (Fiorentina).

Staff – Delegation head: Massimo Paganin; Coach: Paolo Nicolato; Accompanying director: Vincenzo Marinelli; Secretary Manfredi Martino; Assistant Coach: Mirco Gasparetto; Fitness Coach: Vincenzo Pincolini; Goalkeeping Coach: Gian Matteo Mareggini; Match analyst: Francesco Bordin; Doctors: Angelo De Carli and Vincenzo Santoriello; Physiotherapists: Emiliano Bozzetti and Nicola Sanna; Hosteopath: Cristiano Pompili; Physician: Cristian Osgnach.

*replaces Sandro Tonali (Brescia)

**replaces Alessandro Bastoni (Inter)

Schedule

Tuesday 12th November

10:00 - Training at the Stadio Comunale in Abano Terme (first 15 minutes open to the media)

13:15 - Press meeting with one player at La Residence & Hidrokinesis

16:30 - Training at the Stadio Comunale in Abano Terme (closed)

Wednesday 13th November

10:00 - Training at the Stadio Comunale in Abano Terme (first 15 minutes open to the media)

13:15 - Press meeting with one player at La Residence & Hidrokinesis

16:30 - Training at the Stadio Comunale in Abano Terme (closed)

Thursday 14th November

10:00 - Training at the Stadio Comunale in Abano Terme (first 15 minutes open to the media)

13:15 - Press meeting with one player at La Residence & Hidrokinesis

17:00 - Travel from Ferrara c/o Unaway Hotel Occhiobello (Via Eridania 36 – 45030 Santa Maria Maddalena (Ro)

Friday 15th November

15:30      (tbc) - Paolo Nicolato’s press conference at the stadium in Ferrara

16:30 - Training at the stadium in Ferrara (first 15 minutes open to the media)

 Saturday 16th November

10:00 - Training (closed)

11:00 - Exclusive RAI TV interview with Paolo Nicolato

18:30 ITALY vs. Iceland followed by the post-match press conference and dinner at the hotel.

 Sunday 17th November

10:00 - Training (closed)

16:00 - V7 1264 flight Venice-Catania

17.55 - Arrival in Catania and transfer to the Una Hotel Palace di Catania (Via Etnea 218 - 95131 Catania)

Monday 18th November

15:30 (tbc) - Paolo Nicolato’s press conference at the Stadio Angelo Massimino

16:30 (tbc) - Official training at the Stadio Angelo Massimino (First 15 minutes open to the media)

Tuesday 19th November

10:00 - Training (closed)

11:00 - Exclusive RAI TV with Paolo Nicolato

18:30 –ITALY vs. Armenia,  followed by the post-match press conference and dinner at the hotel.

 Wednesday 20th November

Return to club sides.