Today (Raiuno 20.45) Italy-Czech Republic Sensi returns home, Verratti towards recovery
COVERCIANO (Florence). «The goal is to arrive at Wembley on 11 July for the final». Roberto Mancini’s first press conference in Coverciano, in the Media Center Italia set up in the auditorium of the federal technical center. 8 days after his debut at the European Championship in Rome with Turkey (“I was hoping that there could be more fans that evening and I still hope, playing in front of the public is another thing” he admitted) the Italian coach, also present FIGC president Gabiele Gravina did not hide the ambitions with which Italy will face the continental event. «It is a great honor to represent your country – said the coach – and now that this great event is about to begin we can’t wait. We are aiming to go all the way, in the meantime I am happy to have helped bring the national team back a little higher than when I took it ». The countdown has begun, tomorrow in Bologna against the Czech Republic qualified for the European Championship in Group D (8.45 pm, live on Raiuno) the Azzurri will play the last official friendly: «It will be a difficult and therefore convincing test against a strong training ».
Mancini made it clear that the formation that will take the field could resemble the starting one on 11 June even if Verratti will be missing (“But he is making great strides and we will evaluate him in a week”), Pellegrini is cured but will not be risked and Jorginho could catch his breath. And after yesterday afternoon’s training Sensi, who seemed to have recovered, suffered a muscle injury that will force him to return home and thus skip the European Championship. Cristante is in early warning. In defense it is a duel between Spinazzola and Emerson (“after winning the Champions League with Chelsea I am now living the dream of the European Championship and I am thinking of nothing else, least of all about the transfer market, we can go all the way”), in attack between Berardi and Chiesa with the first favorite and at the center more Immobile than Belotti. As for the expected Raspadori, fresh from 120 minutes with the Under 21 team and an injury behind him, his debut with the senior national team could be postponed even if «it would be nice if it happened in Bologna. I called Giacomo because he has extraordinary and different technical characteristics compared to Immobile and Belotti – explained the coach – I hope he can come in and do like Paolo Rossi but that’s not why I wanted him with us even if it is the future of the national team. We now have three strikers, the hope is to get as far as possible and therefore everyone will be needed ».
Had he been able to choose, he would have avoided certain painful decisions: “Leaving Pessina out was hard – he admitted referring to the Atalanta midfielder who remained as a reserve anyway – and in any case it was not easy even for the others, everyone would have deserved to stay here and will be called. for sure in the future. What did I tell Kean about the exclusion? One thing that must remain between us ».
Still on the singles: «Bonucci and Chiellini will be fundamental first of all on the pitch but they were also fundamental in helping the new players to enter. Whether Donnarumma will be conditioned by the contractual situation? Gigio is fine and I saw him calm, after all he has been playing at high levels for some time, I don’t think there will be any problems ».