The training camp with 23 U19s and U18s at the Federation Training Centre has now come to an end, allowing the coaches of the U19 and U18 National Teams, Alberto Bollini and Bernardo Corradi, to evaluate the players with a view to their inclusion in the Azzurri squads.

Bollini said the following: “We had two days of work, between two training sessions yesterday and a friendly match today, which I would define as a ‘trial’, in the sense of freeing the boys in their footballing interpretations because we had to make assessments: in essence it was a case of less training and more selection decisions. We did an excellent job together with the coaching staff and the other Federation Coach present, Bernardo Corradi. We received more than positive indications regarding the possible insertion of these boys into the national set-up, also looking at the next Elite Phase for the Under-19s, the qualifying round for the European Championship which will be played in Italy next Spring.”

Corradi underlined: “The federal scouting sector is doing an excellent job, succeeding in monitoring a lot of boys. It’s always good to see the players in different contexts, just like these training camps show. Coming here to Coverciano, the home of the Italian National Team, really makes you breathe Azzurri air and I’d like to highlight the exemplary behaviour of the boys. It’s always a pleasure to be able to work alongside a coach as experienced as Alberto Bollini.”

The training camp for the potential U18 and U19 National Team players ended this afternoon following the final whistle of the friendly against Fiorentina’s Primavera side, coached by former U17 National Coach Emiliano Bigica. The Azzurrini drew 3-3 with the young Viola team at the Stadio Enzo Bearzot at Coverciano. Fiorentina went ahead in the first half through Pierozzi (18’) before the goal was levelled out by Marigosu’s acrobatic effort (32’). Italy went two ahead in the second half thanks to goals from Fonseca (68’) and Vianni (72’), but Spalluto’s penalty (75’) and Koffi’s finish (88’) meant that it was honours even with the final score 3-3.

SQUAD LIST

GOALKEEPERS: Giuseppe Ciocci (Cagliari), Gian Marco Crespi (Gozzano);

DEFENDERS: Tommaso Barbieri (Novara), Federico Bergonzi (Atalanta), Federico Bonini (Virtus Entella), Davide Manarelli (Sassuolo), Stefano Piccinini (Sassuolo), Edoardo Scanagatta (Atalanta), Laurens Serpe (Genoa), Mattia Viti (Empoli);

MIDFIELDERS: Luca Belardinelli (Empoli), Daniel Maldini (Milan), Federico Marigosu (Cagliari), Tommaso Pantaleo Milanese (Roma), Filippo Ranocchia (Juventus), Diego Orlando Simonetta (Sassuolo), Filippo Tripi (Roma), Andrea Viviani (Atalanta);

FORWARDS: Cosimo Marco Da Graca (Juventus), Matias Fonseca (Inter), Luca Moro (Genoa), Martino Ripamonti (Sassuolo), Samuele Vianni (Napoli).

STAFF – Head Coaches: Alberto Bollini and Bernardo Corradi. Assistant Coach: Giovanni Valente. Goalkeeper Coach: Davide Quironi. Fitness Coach: Vito Azzone. Secretary: Luca Umberto Gatto. Doctor: Cosma Calderaro. Physiotherapist: Angelo Cartocci.