There was emotion visible on the faces, a few tears, but above all a lot of applause in the memory of Gianluca Vialli, the unforgettable champion and former head coach of the national team, after whom this morning Pitch 3 of the CPO 'Giulio Onesti' in Rome was named. A special pitch for Gianluca and for the Azzurri, among the symbolic places of that journey to EURO 2020 that represents the peak of Vialli's long adventure with the national team. It was there, in fact, that Italy prepared for the three matches of the group stage of the European Championship that culminated with the triumph at Wembley.

The naming ceremony was attended by CONI president Giovanni Malagò, FIGC president Gabriele Gravina, CONI vice-president Silvia Salis, CIP president Luca Pancalli, CONI and FIGC general secretaries Carlo Mornati and Marco Brunelli, former federal presidents Franco Carraro and Giancarlo Abete, as well as coach Roberto Mancini and the Azzurri, who trained on the pitch before departing for the Forte Village Resort in S. Margherita in Pula (Cagliari) in the afternoon. Some special spectators were also present, some thirty young patients from the 'Bambino Gesù' Paediatric Hospital, with which the FIGC, and the National team in particular, have promoted a series of joint initiatives in recent years.

"When we met in the Council and thought about the opportunity to name the pitch after Vialli," said Malagò, "it was not an emotional choice of the moment, but as the Olympic Committee it was our intention to send a strong message. We are in the Olympic preparation centre dedicated to Giulio Onesti, who was sent by the government after the war to close CONI. He transformed himself from a liquidating commissioner to a far-sighted president, who succeeded in bringing the Olympics to Rome. When we talk about Olympic preparation we talk about all sports and obviously football. Congratulations to the Under 20 team (semi-finalists at the World Cup) and good luck to the Under 21 team that will play the European Championships, a tournament which saw Gianluca Vialli star in. Today Gianluca's pitch is the pitch of all sportsmen and the Federation."

'The naming of this pitch - Gravina's words - is a tangible sign of what Gianluca represented for football and for sport. Gianluca showed that when you do something for love and you combine passion and determination, showing professional and human qualities even in difficult moments, that is the time when a man becomes a hero. He was a professional, an athlete, and gave a message of hope to so many who have known and know suffering. Gianluca is still with us for what he was able to give to all Italians. We thank him for what he has left us and will keep forever."

Roberto Mancini's memory is touching: "Two years ago we were here and running. He was happy, despite his illness. I thank Malagò for this initiative and Gravina for letting Gianluca join our team. They were two wonderful years: he will always be part of our hearts, he left us physically but he is always with us."

Leonardo Bonucci, captain of a national team that rediscovered itself as a family and who always considered Vialli as a sort of older brother, spoke on behalf of the Azzurri: "A pitch is not enough to understand Gianluca's greatness, in the way he'd always give before receiving. Today he is here with us having a few laughs: behind that smile was a man of great values. In Rome his first thought was to give joy to those children who are here with us today (the little patients of the Bambino Gesù)." Another Vialli, Riccardo, son of Gianluca's brother, does not want to lose the moral legacy left by his uncle: "Luca did so much, as a footballer and as a man. He was an example for future generations, now it is up to us to carry on his lessons."

PRE-RETREAT AT THE FORTE VILLAGE RESORT. In the afternoon, the national team will arrive at the 'Forte Village Resort' in S. Margherita in Pula (Cagliari) for a period of preparation and recovery of physical and mental energy in the aftermath of the end of the league season. As on the eve of EURO 2020, during the five days in Sardinia the players will be together with their respective families and will train on the pitch inside the hotel structure. The pre-retreat will end on Friday 9 June with a test against Cagliari's Primavera team (10am), then from Sunday 11 June the 23 players called up for the Nations League Finals will meet in Coverciano.