Just two days before the Azzurri kick off UEFA Euro 2020, the camp is full of hopes and awareness, with a desire to show off and a concentration of dreams to be realised. It is a well-assembled mix according to Manuel Locatelli, who didn't hide his desire in today's press conference at the Media Centre in Coverciano, to be present at the European Championship. A dream that has been rooted in him for some time: “It is really exciting - underlined the Azzurri midfielder - to be here today, preparing for such a prestigious event. I’ve wanted such an opportunity since I was a child: Stepping onto the pitch to represent all Italians is a real source of pride for me, it’s one of those things you tell your children about”.

This has been a difficult year for everyone, but the fact that the European Championship has been postponed to this summer has benefitted me: I feel more mature and more responsible with an extra season under my belt. My role? I feel great playing in a two in midfield, as I do in Sassuolo, and when we play with two for the national team: This allows me to both find some balance and to try to play”. 

Looking back, he recalls that September night in Amsterdam when his debut came for the senior national team against the Netherlands: "It was wonderful to come out to the applause of my teammates. But we must not take our foot off the pedal after one good performance: We must show our maturity in every match”.

The midfielder has an idol among the coaching staff to give him instructions (“I hope one day I can reach De Rossi's levels”). Manuel Locatelli also spoke about some of his teammates and their characteristics: “When I joined up with the national team I couldn't wait to discover first-hand how good Verratti was: He is phenomenal with the ball at his feet. Jorginho? He has a great gift: He manages to make his teammates play well too. He gives balance and confidence to the whole team. As for me, however, I want to improve my goalscoring ability as well as managing the ball during the game: I have to be able to distribute and be switched on for the full ninety minutes”.

Finally, an inevitable and more precise thought regarding Friday's match against Turkey, which will officially kick off the finals of UEFA Euro 2020: “They have strong players, and it won’t be an easy match, but we know our capabilities. I will have goosebumps singing the anthem, with fans finally in the stands to accompany us”.

UEFA Euro 2020 squad list and shirt numbers

Goalkeepers: 21 Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), 26 Alex Meret (Napoli), 1 Salvatore Sirigu (Torino);
Defenders: 15 Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), 23 Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), 19 Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), 3 Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), 2 Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), 13 Emerson Palmieri (Chelsea), 24 Alessandro Florenzi (Paris Saint-Germain), 4 Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma), 25 Rafael Toloi (Atalanta);
Midfielders: 18 Nicolò Barella (Inter), 16 Bryan Cristante (Roma), 8 Frello Jorge Luiz Jorginho (Chelsea), 5 Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), 7 Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), 12 Matteo Pessina (Atalanta), 6 Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain);
Forwards: 9 Andrea Belotti (Torino), 11 Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), 20 Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), 14 Federico Chiesa (Juventus), 17 Ciro Immobile (Lazio), 10 Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), 22 Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo).

Itinerary (all times CEST) 

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 for 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 for 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

NOTES FOR EDITORS - By clicking this link https://dam.gettyimages.com/s/s79bg9974gncrmcqkwr9ck5t you can download some photos of Manuel Locatelli's press conference. The images can be used by entering as Credits: Getty for Figc. In the evening, photos of today's training will be provided.