Italy are still top of Group C in spite of a draw with Bulgaria on Thursday. After wins in their first three matches and a draw last time out in World Cup qualifying, Roberto Mancini’s side can’t afford to miss the chance to consolidate their grip on top spot over the next two games. First up, it’s Switzerland in Basel, before the match with Lithuania in Reggio Emilia on Wednesday evening.

 “We can’t focus on the 11th July anymore,” said Roberto Mancini in his press conference today. “It was a brilliant night but we can’t dwell on it. It’s there, we’ll be remembered for it but the future is now and we all need to fight to win again.”

This is an Italy side that has equalled Spain’s record of 35 matches without loss: “We’ll have to run hard against Switzerland. We need players at peak fitness and who are ready. They’re all doing fine, apart from Verratti who took a knock to his knee but it hasn’t even been 48 hours since the Bulgaria game yet. We need to evaluate everybody’s condition.” In the meantime, Gianluca Mancini left the camp to rejoin his club.

Mancini returned to the topic of Thursday evening: “We’re disappointed with the draw against Bulgaria, but only with the result. We’re convinced that if we put in the same performance tomorrow, we can win. We’re talking about the finest of margins. We aren’t worried.”

Giorgio Chiellini is of a similar opinion as he remembered the game against Switzerland in the EURO 2020 group stage: “The result is a bit deceptive. For 55 minutes, until Locatelli’s brace, it was a really tight game. The Swiss stopped us from playing and we struggled to press them. They looked good on the counter. They have a dangerous squad. They’ll be playing at home tomorrow and it’ll be even tougher for us. We can’t just go there and put in a decent performance, we need to be at the top of our game.”

Schedule (all times CEST)

Saturday 4 September
10:00 – Switzerland press conference at St. Jacob Park in Basel
11:00 – Switzerland Training at St. Jacob Park in Basel (open to the press the first 15')
11:00 – Transfer Florence-Basel
17:30 – Press conference ITALY at the St. Jacob Park in Basel
18:00 – ITALY training at the St. Jacob Park in Basel (open to the press the first 15')

Sunday 5 September
20:45 – Switzerland vs. ITALY (St. Jacob's Park stadium). Press conference after the match

Monday 6 September
11:30 – Training at the C.S. Basel (closed)
18:00 – Transfer Basel-Reggio Emilia

Tuesday 7 September
16:45 – ITALY press conference at the 'Città del Tricolore' stadium
17:15 – ITALY training at the 'Città del Tricolore' stadium (open to the press the first 15')
18:15 – Lithuania press conference at 'Città del Tricolore' stadium
18:45 - Lithuania training at 'Città del Tricolore' stadium (open to the press the first 15')

Wednesday 8 September

20:45 – ITALY vs. Lithuania (Città del Tricolore Stadium). At the end of the match, press conference, disbandment of the delegation and return of players and staff to their respective headquarters

INFO: How to access the Coverciano Federal Technical Centre (CTF) and the stadiums

Media access is not allowed to the training sessions at Coverciano. The images of the first 15 minutes will be produced and distributed by the FIGC (with technical costs borne by the applicant, info: m.reale@figc.it) live to the holder of the audio-visual rights and at the end of the session to the other applicants. Access to press conferences is limited to a small number of journalists (no cameramen or photographers are allowed), with compulsory spacing and masks; accredited participants will also be provided with a link to watch the conferences remotely (Zoom). The images will in any case be produced and distributed live to the holder of the audiovisual rights and at the end of the event to the other applicants (with technical costs borne by the applicant, info: m.reale@figc.it). A selection of training and press conference photos will be made available to the media with a link on the figc.it website. Access to the CTF of Coverciano, as well as to the stadiums of Florence and Reggio Emilia, is allowed only with a green pass or an antigenic swab within the last 48 hours.