Italy will face Slovenia first, with matches against Ukraine and Spain then set to follow

Carmine Tarantino, Head Coach of Italy’s National Futsal Team, has called up 16 players for the Tournament of Nations, which is due to take place in Manzano and Grado from Saturday 27 to Monday 29 July. The Azzurrini will meet up in Udine on Friday 26 July and will have their first training session on the same afternoon. During the following three days, they will face Slovenia, then Ukraine and finally Spain.

Seven of the players called up have already participated in the European Championship qualifying Main Round, which took place in Karlovac, Croatia, at the end of March: alongside captain Francesco Lo Cicero, they were Joao Victor, Federico Palmegiani, Simone Achilli, Michele Podda, Riccardo Ciciotti and goalkeeper Alessandro Fior. More players will be called up over the next few days, while all of them will return to their respective clubs on 30 April.

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Francesco Cara (Futsal Cagliari), Alessandro Fior (AcquaeSapone Unigross), Alessio Menichella (Lynx Latina)

Outfield players: Michele Iervolino (AcquaeSapone Unigross), Francesco Lo Cicero (Lynx Latina), Luigi Musumeci (Meta Catania Bricocity), Pasquale Nasta (Sandro Abate), Federico Palmegiani (Lynx Latina), Alessio Peroni (Cioli Ariccia Valmontone), Christian Peroni (Cioli Ariccia Valmontone), Fabian Santagati (Milano), Mirko Trabucco (AcquaeSapone Unigross), Joao Victor (Meta Catania Bricocity), Simone Achilli (Olimpus Roma), Michele Podda (Leonardo), Riccardo Ciciotti (Virtus Aniene 3Z)

Staff – Head Coach: Carmine Tarantino; Secretary: Fabrizio Del Principe; Assistant Coach: Mauro Ceteroni; Technical Assistant: Gianluca Briotti; Goalkeeper Coach: Riccardo Budoni; Match Analyst: Riccardo Manno; Doctor: Gianluca Fedeli; Physio: Claudio Princiotta.

Tournament of Nations – The schedule (all times CEST)

MD 1 – Saturday 27 April (Manzano)
11:00 – ITALY vs. Slovenia
14:00– Ukraine vs. Spain

MD 2 – Sunday 28 April (Manzano)
17:00 – Slovenia vs. Spain
20:00 – ITALY vs. Ukraine

MD 3 – Monday 29 April (Grado)
17:00 – Slovenia vs. Ukraine
20:00 – ITALY vs. Spain