Italy are eager to get going, having completed its final training session this morning in Belfast before the opener. The reigning Under-19 champions are just 24 hours away from their opening match in the European Championship against Norway, their first opponent in a group that also includes hosts Northern Ireland and Ukraine. This morning, the Azzurrini trained at Paisley Park and then had a 'walk-around' at Seaview Stadium, which will host the tournament's opening match tomorrow.

CORRADI. “We are ready to play our cards in a group that is anything but easy,” said Corradi on Vivo Azzurro TV, the FIGC’s OTT platform available on the App Store, Google Play and at http://www.vivoazzurrotv.it,  “I am convinced that we have what it takes to reach the semifinals and then go to the final. What reassures me is seeing the boys focused and attentive. In these tournaments, it’s limiting to talk about just the starting eleven. The five substitutions can change the game and maintain the team's performance. Everyone will be important.” Last year, Norway advanced from the group stage for the first time (on their sixth attempt), reaching the semifinals, their best result ever (losing 5-0 to Portugal). In the qualifying phase for this year, they were the only team to win all six matches (with a 10-0 victory against Gibraltar being the widest margin), led by the talented Sindre Walle Egeli from Nordsjaelland. “In our minds, we have set one goal at a time. We are focused first on the Norwegians and then on the rest. Until the first kickoff, the trophy will still be ours, then we will put it back on the line, but we will do everything possible to try to win it back.”

The interview with Bernardo Corradi and the Azzurrini "highlights" are available on Vivo Azzurro TV.

SCHEDULE AND TV. The Azzurrini play their opener on Monday 15 July at 16:30 CEST against Norway (Seaview Stadium, Belfast), followed by a match against Northern Ireland on Thursday 18 July (20:00 CEST, Inver Park, Larne). The last group game is against Ukraine on Sunday 21 July (at 20:00 CEST in Larne). The top two teams from the group will advance to the semifinals (scheduled for Thursday 25 July) and qualify for the Under-20 World Cup in Chile in 2025, while the third-placed teams will enter a playoff to determine the fifth European team qualifying for the next tournament. All of Italy's matches will be broadcast on RaiPlay.

THE SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Federico Magro (Lazio), Renato Bellucci Marin (Roma);

Defenders: Davide Bartesaghi (Milan), Fabio Cristian Chiarodia (Borussia Monchengladbach), Christian Corradi (Hellas Verona), Vittorio Magni (Milan), Filippo Calixte Mane (Borussia Dortmund), Filippo Pagnucco (Juventus);

Midfielders: Aaron Ciammaglichella (Torino), Luca Di Maggio (Inter), Jonas Harder (Fiorentina), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Mattia Mannini (Roma), Marco Romano (Genoa), Kevin Zeroli (Milan);

Forwards: Lorenzo Anghelè (Juventus), Francesco Camarda (Milan), Tommaso Ebone (Bologna), Simone Pafundi (Losanna), Diego Sia (Milan).

Staff – Allenatore: Bernardo Corradi; Capo delegazione; Gianfranco Serioli; Coordinatore delle Nazionali Giovanili: Maurizio Viscidi; Segretario: Aldo Blessich; Assistente allenatore: Mirco Gasparetto; Preparatore atletico: Marco Montini; Preparatore dei portieri: Graziano Vinti; Match analyst: Francesco Donzella; Medici: Paolo Manetti e Cristiano Benelli; Nutrizionista: Micol Purrotti; Fisioterapisti: Giuliano Gepponi e Andrea Cantera; Ufficio stampa: Matteo Santi; Ufficio amministrativo: Marinella Diaco; Servizi Generali: Carlo Fanano.

UEFA EURO UNDER-19

Group A: Northern Ireland (hosts), Norway, Italy (holders), Ukraine
Group B: Demark, Türkiye, France, Spain

MATCHDAY 1

Group A, Monday 15 July
Italy vs. Norway, 16:30 CEST | Seaview Stadium, Belfast
Northern Ireland vs. Ukraine, 20:00 CEST | Inver Park, Larne

Group B, Tuesday 16 July
Denmark vs. Spain, 16:30 CEST | Inver Park, Larne
France vs. Türkiye, 20:00 CEST | Seaview Stadium, Belfast

MATCHDAY 2

Group A, Thursday 18 July
Norway vs. Ukraine, 16:30 CEST | Seaview Stadium, Belfast
Northern Ireland vs. Italy, 20:00 CEST | Inver Park, Larne

Group B, Friday 19 July
Denmark vs. France, 16:30 CEST | Inver Park, Larne
Türkiye vs Spain, 20:00 CEST | Seaview Stadium, Belfast

MATCHDAY 3

Group A, Sunday 21 July
Norway vs. Northern Ireland, 20:00 CEST | Seaview Stadium, Belfast
Ukraine vs. Italy, 20:00 CEST | Inver Park, Larne

Group B, Monday 22 July
Türkiye vs. Denmark, 20:00 CEST | Seaview Stadium, Belfast
Spain vs. France, 20:00 CEST | Inver Park, Larne

WORLD CUP UNDER-20 PLAY OFF

Thursday 25 July
3rd in Group A vs. 3rd in Group B, 17:30 CEST | Seaview Stadium, Belfast

SEMI-FINALS*

Thursday 25 July

S1: Winner of Group A vs. 2nd in Group B
S2: Winner of Group B vs. 2nd in Group A

*The matches will be played at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park in Belfast at 15:00 and 20:00 CEST. The order of the semi-finals will be decided after the group stage.

FINAL

Sunday 28 July
S1 winner vs. S2 winner, 20:00 CEST | National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, Belfast