"We need to believe in our abilities more. The road will be long and tough but at the same time, you need to stay humble and determined because arriving at a European final is within reach." These were the words of Under-21 National Team captain Rolando Mandragora who is one of the veterans in the current squad. He made his debut at this level almost four years ago in August 2015 at the age of 18 in Telki for a friendly against Hungary which finished goalless.

In April 2017, Mandragora received a senior call-up and he went to the Under-20 World Cup in South Korea where he captained the side as the Azzurrini finished third. That was a historic result for the team as Italy made it past the quarter-finals for the first time.

The armband is in his destiny. On Sunday, he’ll lead his teammates out against Spain for the Azzurrini’s European Championship debut against Spain: “To be captain is a great honour,” he said. “Representing the Azzurri in a competition like this is a unique feeling. I feel the responsibility and it’s a great means of motivation. We’re a united group and we want to do well. Possessing the desire to be competitive and go as far as possible must be the key to our Euros. The teammates arriving from the senior team have been welcomed with open arms and they’ll be sure to be a massive help in helping us reach our pre-fixed objective.”

As for their expectations: “I think that it’ll be an exciting game against Spain. We have the desire to start well and get an important result that’ll allow us to keep going. We must get to work right away, heading out there to get what we want.”

Squad list for the European Championship

Goalkeepers: Emil Audero (Sampdoria), Alex Meret (Napoli), Lorenzo Montipò (Benevento);

Defenders: Claud Adjapong (Sassuolo), Alessandro Bastoni (Parma), Kevin Bonifazi (Spal), Arturo Calabresi (Bologna), Federico Dimarco (Parma), Gianluca Mancini (Atalanta), Giuseppe Pezzella (Genoa), Filippo Romagna (Cagliari);

Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Cagliari), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Rolando Mandragora (Udinese), Alessandro Murgia (Spal), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Sandro Tonali (Brescia), Nicolò Zaniolo (Roma);

Forwards: Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina), Patrick Cutrone (Milan), Moise Bioty Kean (Juventus), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Federico Bonazzoli (Padova).

Staff – Delegation Head: Massimo Ambrosini; Team Manager: Vincenzo Marinelli; National Teams Co-ordinator: Maurizio Viscidi; Head Coach: Luigi Di Biagio; Secretary: Mauro Vladovich; Assistant Coaches: Massimo Mutarelli, Carmine Nunziata; Fitness Coach: Vito Azzone; Goalkeeper Coach: Antonio Chimenti; Match analyst: Filippo Lorenzon; Doctors: Angelo De Carli and Luca Gatteschi; Nutritionist: Cristian Petri; Physiotherapists: Enzo Paolini, Alfonso Casano, Emiliano Bozzetti. National teams department: Manfredi Martino.

 

Schedule for the European Championship

Friday 14 June 2019

10:30 Training (closed-door)

13:30 Exclusive interview with UEFA.COM (Di Biagio and one player)

 

Saturday 15 June 2019

17:00 UEFA press conference at the Stadio Dall’Ara

17:30 Training at the Dall’Ara in Bologna (first 15 minutes open to the press)

 

Sunday 16 June 2019

21:00 ITALY – SPAIN at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna

 

Monday 17 June 2019

16:30 Meeting with the press (player)

17:30 Training at Casteldebole (first 15 minutes open to the press)

 

Tuesday 18 June 2019

15:30 UEFA press conference at the Stadio Dall’Ara

17:30 Training at Casteldebole (first 15 minutes open to the press)

 

Wednesday 19 June 2019

21:00 ITALY – POLAND at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna

 

Thursday 20 June 2019

16:30 Meeting with the press (player)

17:30 Training at Casteldebole (first 15 minutes open to the press)

 

Friday 21 June 2019

10:45 Training at Casteldebole (first 15 minutes open to the press)

18:00 Transfer to the Stadio Città del Tricolore

19:15 Walk around at the Stadio Città del Tricolore before then heading to the Hotel Boiardo

19:30 UEFA press conference at the Stadio Città del Tricolore

 

Saturday 22 June 2019

21:00 BELGIUM – ITALY at the Stadio Città del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia

 

Saturday 23 June 2019

Players depart from the squad should they be eliminated.

 

Olympic Play-Off

28 June 21:00 in Cesena

 

European Championship final 30 June 2019

20:45 Stadio Friuli in Udine