It’s the second day of work at Coverciano for the Azzurri, who will train again this afternoon before leaving for Palermo tomorrow for their vital match against North Macedonia. It’s a must-win game if Italy are to progress to the play-off final in either Porto or Konya next Tuesday against the winner of Portugal vs. Turkey.

While the defence that starred in the Euros will have to be changed as Spinazzola and Di Lorenzo are out injured and both Chiellini and Bonucci are a doubt for the game at the Barbera, Roberto Mancini will still be able to count on that same midfield three from last summer’s tournament. Marco Verratti is part of a formidable midfield alongside Barella and Jorginho, a trio replete with both quality and quantity. Should he play in the next two games, the PSG star would reach 50 appearances for Italy, a milestone that confirms that he is one of the veterans of this group.

 "We need to be confident and just focus on our football," said Verratti in a press conference earlier today. "Thursday’s game is massive, against a team that deserves to be here. North Macedonia defend really deep and we’ll need to be aware of their pace on the counter. At the same time, we’ll need to utilise the space effectively in order to cause them problems. We need to go far with enthusiasm and hunger, as we did at the Euros. We all want to play in the World Cup." That triumph at Wembley is a source of extra motivation for the Azzurri as they go on the hunt for qualification to the tournament in Qatar: "The Euros gave us confidence. We did something extraordinary, doing so with joy and enthusiasm. We’re still talking about the win and this gives us a lift. I’m sure that other teams fear us given what we’ve done and who we are. We have every possibility to go through."

He was suspended for the second leg of the play-off against Sweden when Italy missed out on qualification for Russia 2018; this time, Verratti wants to be there at all costs to help his side reach the tournament in Qatar, which would be his second World Cup at the age of 30 years. "There's a different atmosphere than there was for that Sweden game. We would like to play it today because we are ready. The tough times stay with you forever and certain defeats teach you to give that little bit extra. We're used to playing with this sort of pressure and we know how important this is. We cannot miss out on the World Cup; we just need to work hard, give it everything and do what needs to be done. The opposition will have the game of their lives; so we need to do the same."

He is, by now, a real leader for his club side Paris Saint-Germain, with who he has won 27 major honours and has received much praise recently from the French press. In Paris, which is a second home to him after ten years in the city, he was joined last summer by international teammate Donnarumma, who was heavily criticised following an error in the Champions League round of 16 game against Real Madrid, on a costly evening for the Parisians. "Gigio was sorry for the error," Verratti said, "but he is a special player. He was hard at work again the next day. Let's not forget what he did for us during the Euros: he's one of the best 'keepers in the world."

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Cagliari), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Pierluigi Gollini (Tottenham), Salvatore Sirigu (Genoa);

Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Cristiano Biraghi (Fiorentina), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Mattia De Sciglio (Juventus), Emerson Palmieri (Lyon), Alessandro Florenzi (Milan), Luiz Felipe (Lazio), Gianluca Mancini (Roma);

Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho (Chelsea), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Matteo Pessina (Atalanta), Stefano Sensi (Sampdoria), Sandro Tonali (Milan), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain);

Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Joao Pedro (Cagliari), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo), Gianluca Scamacca (Sassuolo) Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio), Nicolò Zaniolo (Roma);

Schedule

Tuesday 22 March

13:45 – Press conference (player), Coverciano Auditorium (access for journalists*)

16:00 – Training, Campo V. Pozzo (behind closed doors**)

Wednesday 23 March

10:30 – Transfer from Florence to Palermo

17:30 – Press conference (Italy) at the Stadio Barbera in Palermo (access for journalists***)

18:00 – Training (Italy) at the Stadio Barbera in Palermo (open to the media for first 15 minutes***)

19:00 – Press conference (North Macedonia) at the Stadio Barbera in Palermo (access for journalists***)

19:30 – Training (North Macedonia) at the Stadio Barbera in Palermo (open to the media for first 15 minutes)

Thursday 24 March

20:45 Italy vs. North Macedonia

Followed by press conference and return to Coverciano***

Friday 25 March

16:00 – Training, Campo V. Pozzo (behind closed doors**)

Saturday 26 March

13:45 – Press conference (player), Coverciano Auditorium (access for journalists**)

16:00 – Training, Campo V. Pozzo (behind closed doors**)

Sunday 27 March

13:45 – Press conference (player), Coverciano Auditorium (access for journalists**)

16:00 – Training, Campo V. Pozzo (behind closed doors**)

Monday 28 March

TBC – Transfer to Oporto/Konya

TBC – Press conference (Italy)***

TBC – Training (Italy) (open to the media for first 15 minutes***)

TBC – Press conference (either Portugal or Turkey) (access for journalists***)

TBC – Training (either Portugal or Turkey) (open to the media for first 15 minutes***)

Tuesday 29 March

20:45 – Portugal/Turkey vs. Italy

Followed by press conference and return to Italy

*Depending on capacity, journalists and photographers will be granted access to the press conference and the first 15 minutes of the team’s training session on Monday 21 March

**From Tuesday 22 March, depending on capacity, only journalists will be granted access to press conferences. FIGC will distribute images of press conferences and training to media outlets on request once technical fees have been paid. For info, please contact Massimiliano Reale (FIGC Area Sales): email: m.reale@figc.it Tel.: 06.8491.3023.

***Media activities at the relevant match venues (MD-1 e MD) will be allowed for outlets with accreditation and as per exclusivity agreements with broadcasters. Access to press conferences will be limited depending on capacity.