After the Alessandro Bastoni’s withdrawal from the squad yesterday and Sandro Tonali’s call-up to the senior team, who were replaced by Salvatore Esposito and Nicolò Casale respectively, Coach Paolo Nicolato also lost both Luca Pellegrini and Davide Frattesi to injury: the Cagliari defender and Empoli defender left the camp this morning and therefore will not travel with the rest of the team to Ferrara, who will arrive there 48 hours before their qualifying match against Iceland. The match will take place at the Stadio Paolo Mazza on Saturday at 18:30 CET.

The Under-21s, who also take on Armenia in Catania at 18:30 CET on Thursday, trained in Abano Terme this morning and will have their final training session tomorrow afternoon at the Stadio Paolo Mazza on the eve of their match against their Icelandic contemporaries. Their opponents are two points better off in the table than the Azzurrini but they have also played a game more. Italy are yet to concede a goal in their three games but their opponents have already shipped six goals. A potentially porous defence could be problem against Gianluca Scamacca, who has already scored two goals during this qualifying campaign, one of which was the winner against Armenia in Yerevan. The forward gave his thoughts on the upcoming match: “It will be a difficult game, Iceland are a really organised team who play well, but we’re at home and we’ll need to play well. We’re a great group, we’ve known each other for ages and we need to go onto the pitch and play our own game, and play it with pride.”

The 20-year-old striker is wanted by several Serie A club and knows that playing with the Under-21s is a valuable chance to showcase his qualities while also furthering his ambition of playing for the senior National Team: “It’s my dream but for the moment I’m working hard to make sure I’m available for the team. I have a lot do and improve on, if happens great, if not it’s still fine”. The on-loan Sassuolo striker was born in Rome but has played in the Netherlands twice in his career and believes that this has aided him: “Going abroad helped me, I came back to Italy more mature. Now my goals are reaching the play-offs with Ascoli and the European Championship with the Under-21s.”

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 Ranieri (Fiorentina), Marco Sala (Virtus Entella), Alessandro Tripaldelli (Sassuolo);

Midfielders:  Marco Carraro (Perugia), 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

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.