Over these days, in the pre-retreat at Forte Village, the FIGC Partner team were present alongside the national team, who are increasingly integrated with the Azzurri team, staff and players: together, they experience the most important occasions, whether it be matches, retreats, charity initiatives, trips and travels around the world.

And so, in this first part of the preparations towards the UEFA Nations League Finals, the managers of the Azzurri also got back to work, because in the past few days they had received the official call to Sardinia from their coach, assistant coach Giovanni Valentini, and they all answered the call.

The full staff of the FIGC commercial area put the group of established talents and young promises that made up the team of Partners to work between Thursday and Friday. To begin intense group work in the workshop on Thursday afternoon: training began with a debate on the developments of the FIGC Revenue Area and its Media Factory, by Giovanni Valentini; then the second step on the development of the figure of the referee and the introduction of technology as a tool to referee matches, with Gianluca Rocchi (Referee Designator A/B) in the chair, then space for the staff of Club Italia and the National Team, because the Partners are also 'hungry' for technical and organisational notions. With Mauro Vladovich (Club Italia Secretary) focus on the data of the National Teams and on the organisational and logistic methods linked to the over 200 matches that the Azzurri Teams face every year, in all UEFA and FIFA competitions, in every part of the world. And then the latest additions to the group, much awaited by the Partners to start a relationship with them: Alberto Bollini, coach of the Under-19 team and from these days assistant of the National A team, and Giuliano Bergamaschi, Sports Pedagogist, who immediately caught the attention for the novelty of this type of role in a National Team.

Then, to 'dispose of the toxins' of the long season, an aperitif by the pool and dinner at the Resort's restaurant in Santa Margherita di Pula overlooking the sea. Between Thursday and Friday, moreover, between one event and another, many also opted for a series of dedicated services to make the most of their stay at Forte Village to relax body and mind, as the footballers did: thalassotherapy, gym, beach, as well as nature trails to be followed on foot or by bike or, for the more enterprising, padel, tennis and go-karting.

The media also had the opportunity to follow the FIGC Partner team, which is now attracting some attention even among the most attentive media operators: Sky Sport, which has a very positive relationship with the Forte Village, also reported on this type of activity live from the Resort. At the microphone of Giorgia Cenni, famous Sky correspondent, Valentini explained the meaning of the meeting: "In football there is a bit of superstition, this is a formula that works and that we like. We adopted it before the European Championship and now we have repeated it, it is a way to recharge the batteries after a season that is not yet over. We do it together with the companies and our partners who have supported us on this path'. Between some resident players and some new faces: "We are trying to attract new ones who can add to the hard core," says Valentini, "I think it is right to have a turnover along with some new faces".

But when you are an Azzurri partner you really are, and you play that role completely for all the Italian national football teams: and so, at 23:00 CEST, everyone met at the big screen in Forte Village to support, together, the Azzurrini of the Under 20 team engaged in Buenos Aires in the semi-final of the Under 20 World Cup. At Pafundi's goal, in the 85th minute, brilliantly predicted by Valentini in oracle version in the previous minutes, general jubilation and group hugs. And someone launched into a risky proposal: "When do we leave for Buenos Aires?" Certainly, the FIGC partners do not lack love for the Azzurri jersey. But Valentini glides for now: "Maybe we can organise a chat on whatsapp to follow the final from home and comment on it together...".

The night, as Venditti sang, was a 'night of dreams, cups and champions', a 'night of tears and prayers', and if 'mathematics will never be my job', the hope is that 'planes fly high between New York and Moscow' and also towards Buenos Aires. But in the end 'this night is still ours' and also of the Azzurri Dream.

Waking up this morning for the national team's friendly match, the Partners team followed the match compactly from the stands, despite the heavy rain, because the national team loves each other even in cold and rainy weather. At the end, on the pitch, group photo all together for a definitive 'break of the lines'. Then the transfer from Cagliari, partners, staff and players, and everyone headed home, on the two flights organised to Rome and Milan.

From Sunday the Azzurri will meet in Coverciano, before flying to Holland to play in the Nations League. And with them, even there, many colleagues from the partner team are expected, who, after this preparation in Sardinia, are also ready for Holland. The breath and the form are there, to cheer from the stands and shout at the top of their lungs the new national team anthem, entitled 'Azzurri', composed and produced by Enrico Giaretta and Maurizio D'Aniello, which also at Forte Village has been resounded on every official occasion to accompany the Azzurri and the partners' team.

The partner companies present at the Azzurri's training camp at Forte Village:

adidas
TIM
Poste Italiane
Lete
Esselunga
Deliveroo
Socios.com
Teamsystem
Facile Ristrutturare
Volkswagen
Trenitalia
Fonzies
Conte.it
EY
TCL
Red Bull
Biraghi
Fileni
Vivaticket
Panini
Radio Italia
Sportnetwork
Wurth Modify
Net Insurance