The wait is nearly over, the European Championships are approaching. After announcing the list of the 23 players called up for the final phase of the continental tournament on Tuesday, Paolo Nicolato directed the first training session of the last phase of the meeting this morning at the CPO in Tirrenia.

Five days before the departure for Cluj, the Romanian city that will host Italy's three group matches against France (22 June), Switzerland (25 June) and Norway (28 June), the group welcomed the three Azzurrini who ended their season with their respective clubs last week. An unfortunate episode was experienced by Bari goalkeeper Elia Caprile and Spezia midfielder Salvatore Esposito, who were respectively defeated in the Serie B play-off final with Cagliari and in the Serie A play-off against Verona. And it didn't go any better for Raoul Bellanova, who was sent on by Simone Inzaghi in the Champions League final against Manchester City. But now everyone's thoughts must turn only to the national team and a European Championships that will also award three spots in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

"The first phase of work with the team has convinced me a lot,'' Nicolato said in his press conference. ''We also had to make some painful choices because unfortunately the limited number of call-ups did not allow us to bring all those who deserved to be here. The unknowns I have are those that any coach would have who has to manage a group that is together now and that in a week has to be ready to play. It is not easy to prepare for such an important competition in such a short time, but in this group I see desire, enthusiasm and attachment to the shirt and this makes our task easier."

Of the 23 players called up, the last to join the group will be Wilfried Gnonto, who will be engaged until Sunday with the senior national team in the Nations League Finals. A boy whom Nicolato knows well and whom he would have liked to call up several times in recent months: "It is right to clarify a little about Willy. We wanted to call him up as early as March 2022, then I shared the decision to leave him at the Under 19s because there were World Cup qualifiers and we all know how that turned out. Then in June Mancini's call-up arrived. We decided to bring him despite the fact that he was already involved in the Nations League also thanks to the club he belongs to, who did not create any problems for us. He has gone through the whole youth system and we know his value, both technical and human. He is enthusiastic about coming and we are very happy to have him." Gnonto's call up is not related to Moise Kean dropping out: "What I had to tell him I told him in great serenity and he answered me in great serenity, everyone is free to make his own choices. Right now, the 23 who are here are important." On the other boys already on the senior national team's squad like Tonali and Scalvini there is the conviction that they can bring that fundamental experience to go forward in the major events: "I'm really pleased with them. There was perhaps the possibility of having a few others, but they immediately expressed great enthusiasm to come, they know the dynamics of our group well and we are pleased that, even years later, they willingly come here. It means that they are comfortable with us and that they are comfortable with each other."

Samuele Ricci, who has just returned from a season that saw him grow exponentially and carve out a prominent role for himself at Torino, has also gained experience: "You know it's difficult to talk about individuals at this stage here," Nicolato said in response to a journalist's question about the Granata midfielder, adding: "He is a guy who can do everything. He can be a director, he can play as a deep centre forward, as a midfielder and in a two-man midfield. He has stamina, technique and reads the game. He's an intelligent guy, one of those players that a coach appreciates for his ability to play various roles."

After again congratulating the Under 20s team ("reaching a World Cup final does not happen every day. In recent years many results have been achieved, we have won many silver and bronze medals"), the coach commented on the words of Davide Frattesi, who from the national team's retreat underlined how in Italy young players suffer too much criticism: "It is clear that with young people we of another generation have a somewhat conflicting relationship, a relationship that must be resolved. We are very good judges at all levels, including the media and social media. Everyone is a good judge, but no one makes an effort to understand. We must try to take this step because they are our future." And on the fact that the European Championship can be a showcase for his boys, his thoughts are clear: 'We want to have a positive and exciting experience together, leaving aside personal interests for a common goal. Now is not the time to think about the transfer window."

The Azzurrini shirt numbers for the Under 21 European Championships

Goalkeepers: 19 Elia Caprile (Bari), 1 Marco Carnesecchi (Cremonese), 22 Stefano Turati (Frosinone)
Defenders: 12 Raoul Bellanova (Inter), 20 Andrea Cambiaso (Bologna), 14 Giorgio Cittadini (Modena), 6 Matteo Lovato (Salernitana), 15 Caleb Okoli (Atalanta), 3 Fabiano Parisi (Empoli), 5 Lorenzo Pirola (Salernitana), 2 Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), 13 Destiny Iyenoma Udogie (Udinese);
Midfielders: 16 Edoardo Bove (Roma), 7 Salvatore Esposito (Spezia), 21 Fabio Miretti (Juventus), 4 Samuele Ricci (Torino), 10 Nicolò Rovella (Monza), 8 Sandro Tonali (AC Milan);
Attackers: 23 Nicolò Cambiaghi (Empoli), 18 Matteo Cancellieri (Lazio), 9 Lorenzo Colombo (Lecce), 17 Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds), 11 Pietro Pellegri (Torino).