For over a year, defender Federico Dimarco has been a member of Italy's U21s squad. After coming second at the U17s European Championship in 2013, he took part in the U17s World Cup, when Italy were knocked out in the round of 16. He reached the U19s European Championship final and scored four goals in the tournament. Before he joined up with the U21s squad, he took part in the U20s World Cup in 2017 in South Korea, where Italy came third.

He has so far made eight appearances for the Italy U21s team and scored one goal: "We have known each other for around two years and some of us even from when we were in the U15s. We are working hard ahead of our first game in the upcoming U21 European Championships against Spain. We feel like we have a good chance to win the tournament but we also know that other teams will want to win too. Teams like Spain and England are really strong but we are confident in our strengths and we will do our best to win it. There is a pressure that we discuss but we know we are a great group of players, with some of who are in the senior National team and will join us in the next few days. They are all great players and will help us a lot. I‘m talking about Pellegrini and Chiesa, who played in the European Championships two years ago, and about Barella, Kean and Zaniolo, who have shown their talent in Serie A this season."

For the first time, Italy will host the tournament, which includes twelve nations. The winner will get a place at the Olympic Games in Japan on 2020. The Azzurrini have won the title five times (1992, 1994, 1996, 2000 and 2004) and taken part in seven finals. Italy currently holds the record for most title wins. "I hope to be a part of the 23 players, who will face Spain. I expect a great game and I hope to start with a victory. The goal for me and my teammates is to win the title or to reach at least the semi-finals in order to show, that we are a great team and deserve to qualify for the Olympic Games," concluded Dimarco.

Italy coach Di Biagio will announce the 23 players, who will take part in the tournament before Thursday 6th June. Italy is included in Group A and will start against Spain at the 'Renato Dall’Ara' stadium on Sunday 16th. The Azzurrini will face Poland (Wednesday 19th June, 21:00 CEST in Bologna) and Belgium (Saturday 22nd June, 21:00 CEST in Reggio Emilia).

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Emil Audero (Sampdoria), Alex Meret (Napoli), Lorenzo Montipò (Benevento);
Defenders: Claud Adjapong (Sassuolo), Alessandro Bastoni (Parma), Kevin Bonifazi (Spal), Arturo Calabresi (Bologna), Davide Calabria (Milan), Fabio De Paoli (Chievo Verona), Federico Dimarco (Parma), Sebastiano Luperto (Napoli), Giuseppe Pezzella (Genoa), Filippo Romagna (Cagliari);
Midfielders: Francesco Cassata (Frosinone), Gaetano Castrovilli (Cremonese), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Rolando Mandragora (Udinese), Alessandro Murgia (Spal), Sandro Tonali (Brescia), Luca Valzania (Frosinone);
Forwards: Federico Bonazzoli (Padova), Patrick Cutrone (Milan), Ferdinando Del Sole (Pescara), Gabriele Moncini (Cittadella), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Riccardo Sottil (Pescara).

Staff – Delegation Head: Massimo Ambrosini; Team Manager: Vincenzo Marinelli; National Teams Co-ordinator: Maurizio Viscidi; Head Coach: Luigi Di Biagio; Secretary: Mauro Vladovich; Assistant Coaches: Massimo Mutarelli, Carmine Nunziata; Fitness Coach: Vito Azzone; Goalkeeper Coach: Antonio Chimenti; Match analyst: Filippo Lorenzon; Doctors: Angelo De Carli and Luca Gatteschi; Nutritionist: Cristian Petri; Physiotherapists: Enzo Paolini, Alfonso Casano, Emiliano Bozzetti. National teams department: Manfredi Martino.

Schedule

Friday 31 May
10:30 Training (first 15 minutes open to the press)
13:30 Press conference with a player

Saturday 1 June
13:30 Press conference with a player
17:00 Training (first 15 minutes open to the press)

Sunday 2 June
17:00 Training (closed)

Monday 3 June
13:30 Press conference with a player
17:00 Training (first 15 minutes open to the press)

Tuesday 4 June
10:30 Training (closed)
17:00 Training (closed)

Wednesday 5 June
10:30 Training (closed)
13:30 Press conference with a player

Thursday 6 June
(Squad of 23 to be confirmed by 24:00)
10:30 Training/ Friendly (open to accredited media)

Friday 7 June
16:00 Press conference with the Coach
17:00 Training (first 15 minutes open to the press)

Saturday 8 June
10:30 Training (closed)
13:00 Lunch
Training camp to end and players return home

Media information
For the preliminary camp in Formello, media accreditation will be granted to Odg/AIPS card holders. For the camp at Casteldebole from 10 June, media activities can be accessed by going through the UEFA Accreditations process.