We are finally here. After having completed their final training session at the Cluj Arena this afternoon, the Under-21 side are now ready to embark on their EURO 2023 adventure in Georgia and Romani tomorrow (20:45 CEST, live on Rai 1 and officiated by Dutch referee Lindhout), which also sees three spots at stake for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Against France, they kick off with arguably their toughest fixture of the group, and as well as being one of Azzurrini's group rivals from top spot the French are one of the favourites to lift the trophy. They must be given the most utmost respect, yet not feared. Despite having won the trophy the most number of times (five), along with Spain, Italy have not won the torunament since 2004, and haven't qualified for the Olympics since 2008.

France, who like the Azzurrini ended their group qualifying campaign unbeaten (eight wins and two draws), have many strings to their bows, especially up front. From Amine Gouiri, 15 goals in Ligue 1 with Rennes, to Lyon's attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki, right through to the 2003-born Montpellier prospect Elye Wahi, who has 19 goals in Ligue 1: “We've been preparing for this competition for two years," declared Paolo Nicolato from the press room at the Cluj Arena, where around 14,000 spectactors are expected to be in attendance tomorrow (stadium capacity is 30,000). "In the last two months, we've focused on studying the opposition. France have lots of top quality talent in their squad and change between playing a 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 system, even mid-game sometimes. We know them well and what to expect. In pre-match press conferences, we are all good sides, but it's what happens on the pitch that counts. For us, it's the best way to get to know what our true prospects are, as we're coming up against one of the strongest sides of the tournament."

The Head Caoch is happy with who he has available for selection, but had hoped to have had more time working with the group: “We've got the best players we could have here, even if they arrived a little later compared with France's, and also Switzerland and Norway, who have both had a completely different preparation period to us. We've been able to work together for at least two years now."

VAR nor goalline technology will be used in this European Championships. It will be like going back in time a few years, but it isn't a problem for the Head Coach: “We'll get used to not having it. Finger's crossed there are no big issues in managing certain episodes in a game. I was knocked out of a World Cup semi-final because of a VAR decision (in 2019 at the Under 20 World Cup when an on-field review by the referee at the monitor chalked off Scamacca's equaliser against Ukraine in stoppage-time), maybe it's for the better..."

Also talking to the press was Sandro Tonali, who like Scalvini and Gnonto responded positively to Nicolato's call-up to the squad, despite being a regular in the National First Team squad. He decided to take part in the Euros knowing that after a long and unusual season it would be impossible to play in the Nations League as well: “We made the best decision for everyone. After playing 50 games this season, it would have been a bit too much to have been part of both squads."

The AC Milan midfielder is set to take part in his third Under-21 European Championships in his young, short career. In the 2019 edition, hosted by Italy, he was only 19 years old and had to put his high school diploma exams on hold. He didn't start any games, coming on twice as a sub but having little time to make any desired effect as the Azzurrini were knocked out in the group stages. Two years later and his next Euros was even shorter, as he was sent off in the opening group game against the Czech Republic, missing the next three games including the quarter-finals, which ended in defeat for Italy. The hope is this third and final chance will be the right one: “There's no sense of putting things right, but we know we have a strong squad here, have worked hard in preparation and we want to do well in the competition. All there is to do now is go out there and give our best."

Tomorrow evening, he will come up against fellow AC Milan teammate Pierre Kalulu: “We were teasing and joking around with each other in the last few weeks of the season; we speak often because we are friends. It'll be the first time we've faced each other; I hope he leaves with bad memories."

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 (Milan);
Forwards: 23 Nicolò Cambiaghi (Empoli), 18 Matteo Cancellieri (Lazio), 9 Lorenzo Colombo (Lecce), 17 Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds), 11 Pietro Pellegri (Torino).