Today in Tirrenia the journey of the Azzurrini begins. For now, the squad has been enlarged to 29, the list will be delivered on the 13th
Italy’s Under 21 journey towards the European Championship with a view to the Paris Olympics begins today in Tirrenia in the Olympic training centre. The squad of the extended squad has become 29: Calafiori has also been added, while Salvatore Esposito and Bellanova, historical elements of the group, will in all probability join after the play-off and the Champions League final. The list for the tournament will be delivered on the 13th but it can already be said that the team, with Tonali, Scalvini, Kean who finds the Under 21 team again after almost four years, has serious ambitions. “Ambitions are always serious – says coach Paolo Nicolato -, then there are the facts that are more difficult. I am very satisfied with the attitude that I have noticed in these young people, in this two-year period and in the previous ones. I had great availability from everyone, they wanted to be there. We are happy to have this team, then the pitch will do the talking. We know of the difficulties we are facing, in the last year we haven’t had these players available, the bet is to form a team in a very short time, this is our first goal, if we succeed we will be a good team. I know the qualities of the others, but we have always succeeded. So I’m very confident.”
Singles
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Inevitable to go on the singles, starting with the return of Sandro Tonali, who began the two-year period as captain of the Under 21 team and then took flight: “I’m very happy to have him, I’ve always felt him close, I’ve never lost relationships and contacts with him. I made him make his debut in the national team, with the Under 18, he is one of those guys who has always shown great availability and gratitude towards me. I have great respect for him, I understand that it is not a simple situation, but he has shown once again that relationships are always very important ”. And then Scalvini: “I believed in it a lot, right away. I hope and wish him a great contribution, it’s a role in which we’ve had a few too many difficulties, many injuries – Ruggeri, Viti, Lovato aren’t doing well -, he’s always worried us a bit in these two years. It’s an added value, he didn’t finish the season brilliantly but I’m convinced that his qualities will help us a lot ”. And the others: “Bove I let him play even when he wasn’t playing, I’m glad he still sees us a little better… Kean just give us what he can do. My goal, given the complex year, was to bring here the strongest players, the strongest youngsters, in accordance with the needs of others. He is, I have great respect. With me he played a great Under 19 European Championship in which he was a great protagonist, he is a type of player with different characteristics and against the opponents we will face he has the right ones to be decisive. Pellegri is a new center forward, he is a strong player, he combines great physical qualities with great technical qualities. He followed a difficult path but I bonded to him precisely because of his difficulties. He lacks continuity but over time he has grown a lot, he works hard, he has great qualities ”.
100%
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The message to the team is clear: “I expect them all to give 100%: now is the time to either give everything or give nothing. As far as I’m concerned, I carry the same enthusiasm as always. It’s my fourth international competition: after a silver medal with the Under 19, a world semi-final with the Under 20 and a fourth European with the Under 21 I’d like to go further. This year hasn’t been easy, he has contributed little to team building, because we’ve had five friendlies with always different teams. But some players who have worked with me for a long time are returning, a little refresher and we will become a team.” Closing on the Under 20 that Nicolato knows well: “I’m very happy for Nunziata and for all of Club Italia. In recent years I have seen an important working group, the results obtained have also been little publicized but we have always arrived towards the end: it is the third semifinal in a row at the World Cup, the only federation in the world that continues like this. I experienced one of those three and I know well the sensations you feel, I can only congratulate you and wish you good luck”.
June 7 – 3.31pm
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