Italy, the first holiday meeting is born between Pula and Cagliari

PULA. “I’ll be back later, I have to train. “Before and after the hard work on the pitch, the Azzurri will be able to stay with their wives, girlfriends and children. The only commitment to respect is that of the 10.30 session under the orders of coach Roberto Mancini. players will be able to do more or less what they want because they are on vacation. Indeed the Forte Village retreat will be the first “free” retreat in the history of the Italian national team. Nobody will go to check how many hours they spend at the beach or what time they go back to sleep. The coach will give it a recommendation – it is clear – and they, the players, are professionals and they know that it will have to be a smart holiday anyway.@1,3,60,0,1,0,0,0,4,97,0,blu>

The only real limit is not to overeat. It is no coincidence that in the blue delegation that landed in Sardinia on May 24th there will also be the nutritionist usually following the national team. In short, it is forbidden to exaggerate also to avoid the risk of arriving too heavy or cooked by the sun for the match with San Marino at night on the 28th. And there is little to take it easy, especially for players at risk of cutting: vacation or retirement will be for the Azzurri in the balance days and important occasions to convince the coach to put their name on the list for the European Championships. A beautiful caravan that colors the Fort in blue. @1,3,60,0,1,0,0,0,4,97,0,blu>

In Santa Margherita not only 32 players called up (Lazzari excluded in the end due to injury). But also the twenty-one of the technical staff. From the head of delegation Gianluca Vialli, to the team manager Gabriele Oriali. Then the assistant coaches Daniele De Rossi, Alberico Evani, Attilio Lombardo, Giulio Nuciari and Fausto Salsano. And again the goalkeeper coach Massimo Battara, the athletic trainers Andrea Scanavino and Claudio Donatelli. Also on the staff are match analysts Simone Contran and Marco Scarpa. Then the observer Marco Scarpa, the doctors Andrea Ferretti and Carmine Costabile, the nutritionist Matteo Pincella, the physiotherapists Maurizio Fagorzi, Emanuele Randelli, Fabrizio Scalzi, Luca Lascialfari and the osteopath Walter Martinelli.@1,3,60,0,1,0,0,0,4,97,0,blu>

Two will feel the air of home in Santa Margherita di Pula. One is Nuciari, at the helm of Cagliari in a parenthesis in Serie B together with Gianfranco Matteoli, after the exoneration of Antonio Sala and the arrival of Nedo Sonetto. Almost twenty years ago. And the other is Randelli, one who with Cagliari won a promotion at the time of Reja. @1,3,60,0,1,0,0,0,4,97,0,blu>

That it is not a real gathering like that of the official races is also stated by the arrival methods at the resort: each for his own business. No appointment in Coverciano. Because Coverciano, from Monday to match day, will be Santa Margherita. The most advantaged of all is Alessio Cragno who will simply have to load the trunk of his car. And travel the forty kilometers that separate Cagliari from Santa Margherita passing through the pond of Santa Gilla, La Maddalena Spiaggia, Frutti d’Oro. And then Sarroch, Villa San Pietro and Pula. A walk. For all the others, inevitably stop at Elmas airport and then transfer to Santa Margherita.@1,3,60,0,1,0,0,0,4,97,0,blu>

All the technical equipment, from balls to shirts, has been sent to Sardinia in recent days and when the team arrives in Santa Margherita everything will be ready for training. The program foresees for Monday the meeting by midnight at Forte Village. The day after the first training session in the grass field at 10.30. Same story on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. No journalists following the national team. Only Thursday in the first quarter of an hour of the session will it be possible to have some pictures. But only produced and distributed by the Federation. At 12 open doors for the pre-match press conference. @1,3,60,0,1,0,0,0,4,97,0,blu>

Then on Friday the transfer to Cagliari for the match against San Marino. Finally, everyone at their home. In theory. Because instead it is already known that several players have decided to stay at the Forte even for the whole weekend. Because then the real work begins on Monday because we have to prepare a tougher match, the one on Friday 4 June (8.45 pm) in Bologna with the Czech Republic. And that will be the last friendly match before the European Championship.@1,3,60,0,1,0,0,0,4,97,0,blu>

An unprecedented formula. It is the first holiday-retreat in the history of the Italian national team. Never before has a resort been the first stage of approaching such an important competition. The idea is to create a situation halfway between work and relaxation for the thirty-three called up and for the staff. Together with their families. With one goal: to be a group. Always with an eye on the ball because on the 28th there is the match at the Sardegna Arena with San Marino.@1,3,60,0,1,0,0,0,4,97,0,blu>

The structure of Santa Margherita explains that the choice was not accidental. Since last season Forte Village – explain from the resort – had distinguished itself as the first in the world to apply the most advanced health procedures in the field of Covid-19, which “had made it possible for guests to spend a stay in freedom without limitations, in more total respect for one’s own health and that of others “. In September the first test for the ATP 250 of tennis. Now the meeting of the national team. With a protocol – they continue from the resort – defined in the smallest details which for the 2021 season has been further strengthened. @1,3,60,0,1,0,0,0,4,97,0,blu>

A grass soccer field and a “performance center” with the latest generation gym equipment are available to the national team for daily training. Then there are all the services and naturalistic beauties for players and their families. Starting from the beach, a few steps from a 50-hectare park that alternates centuries-old pines with tropical plants and Mediterranean scrub. For the children of the “Azzurri” and for all the other guests the Children’s Wonderland, and sports academy to test themselves in all disciplines. Even in football. Children who dream of following in the footsteps of their fathers can wear another blue shirt for a few days, that of Chelsea.@1,3,60,0,1,0,0,0,4,97,0,blu>

Yes, because in Santa Margherita there is a sort of seaside home of the English club with the Chelsea FC Foundation Soccer School which provides instructors and stars of Gianfranco Zola’s former team. The “little” blues are likely to train more than their fathers: training sessions from Monday to Friday, in the morning and in the afternoon. But there is something for everyone. From signature cuisine to the Aquaforte Thalasso & Spa with its thalassotherapy path.@1,3,60,0,1,0,0,0,4,97,0,blu>

“We are extremely proud to be able to host our extraordinary national football team,” said Lorenzo Giannuzzi, CEO and General Manager of Forte Village. «The work already undertaken last year has allowed us to be the first resort to be able to offer its guests a safe holiday to enjoy with the utmost serenity. We hope that the whole team and families will finally be able to spend a few days together in absolute safety, tranquility, relaxation and happiness ».@1,3,60,0,1,0,0,0,4,97,0,blu>