The Azzurrini held their final training session this morning before they depart for Podgorica. Training was observed by a group of Ukrainian refugee children, who were invited to Tirrenia.

For the children, who were accompanied by their mothers, it was a moment of escape and fun as they took photos with Paolo Nicolato and the players and received footballs and shirts.

Preparations for the impending fixture will continue tomorrow at Podgorica’s Gradski Stadion, where they will then take on Montenegro at 18:30 CET on Friday. Matteo Cancellieri has dubbed this game as “really important”. The Verona forward recently scored his first Serie A goal – against Empoli – and spoke to the press at the training camp. “We’re preparing for the Montenegro game as we do for every game and we need to focus,” he said. “We haven’t seen each other for a while and we’re trying to form a new group with the new players. I’m going through a good period: it was an amazing feeling to score and I will always remember it. I like that stadium, I scored against Luxembourg there too.”

Nicolato is concerned because not many of the Under-21 players are playing in Serie A. “Young players definitely have a tough time adapting to Serie A. It’s up to each individual to earn their place and help the team,” Cancellieri underlined.

 

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Cremonese), Alessandro Plizzari (Lecce), Stefano Turati (Reggina);

Defenders: Raoul Bellanova (Cagliari), Antonio Candela (Cesena), Simone Canestrelli (Crotone), Matteo Lovato (Cagliari), Caleb Okoli (Cremonese), Fabiano Parisi (Empoli), Lorenzo Pirola (Monza), Giacomo Quagliata (Heracles Almelo), Mattia Viti (Empoli);

Midfielders: Edoardo Bove (Roma), Alessandro Cortinovis (Reggina), Salvatore Esposito (Spal), Nicolò Fagioli (Cremonese), Manolo Portanova (Genoa), Samuele Ricci (Torino), Nicolò Rovella (Genoa), Iyenoma Destiny Udogie (Udinese);

Forwards: Nicolò Cambiaghi (Pordenone), Matteo Cancellieri (Hellas Verona), Lorenzo Colombo (Spal), Gianluca Gaetano (Cremonese), Lorenzo Lucca (Pisa), Emanuel Vignato (Bologna), Kelvin K. Yeboah (Genoa).

Schedule 

Wednesday 23 March 2022

10:30                Training (open to RAI)

17:00                Charter flight from Pisa to Podgorica

                          and subsequent transfer to the Hilton Podgorica

Thursday 24 March 2022

10:30                Training (access for first 15 minutes)

13.45                Press conference (Nicolato) via Zoom (RAI in attendance)

18.30                Trip to the Gradski Stadion in Podgorica

 

Friday 25 March 2022

10:30                 Training (behind closed doors)

12:55                 Technical meeting

18:30                 Gradski Stadion in Podgorica: MONTENEGRO VS. ITALIA

                          followed by press conference via Zoom

22:30                 Charter flight from Podgorica to Trieste

                          and transfer to the Falisia Resort Portopiccolo – Sistiana

 

Saturday 26 March 2022

13:15                 Lunch

16:30                 Training (behind closed doors)

Sunday 27 March 2022

10:30                 Training (open to RAI)

13:45                 Press conference (player) via Zoom (RAI in attendance)

16:30                 Training (behind closed doors)

Monday 28 March 2022

08:30                Breakfast

10:30                Training (behind closed doors)

13:45                Press conference (Nicolato) via Zoom (Rai in attendance)

17:30                Trip to the Stadio Nereo Rocco in Trieste

Tuesday 29 March 2022

10:30                Training (behind closed doors)

12:40                Technical meeting

17:30                Stadio Nereo Rocco in Trieste: ITALY VS. BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

                        followed by press conference and return to respective clubs