After Head Coach Roberto Mancini paid the team a visit in Formello, the Under-21 National Team are continuing their preparations for the European Championship, which is just over two weeks away. Once the first phase of their training camp is over, the Azzurrini will move their set-up to Bologna’s Training Centre in Casteldebole – familiar surroundings for Riccardo Orsolini.

The attacking player was one of the key players as the Rossoblu secured their status in Serie A. After a great league season where he scored eight times, this summer he’ll be hoping for a repeat of the Under-20 World Cup two years ago, when he found the back of the net five times and finished top scorer: “I like to play out wide,” he emphasised while holding a press conference. But scoring is important and part of what I do. I’ve always scored goals. I like finding the back of the net and managed to get on the scoresheet a number of times this year, even if I know I can do better. Now, I need to ensure I’m in the best condition I can be physically when the European Championship comes around.”

The memories of two years ago are still firmly in his mind, and over recent days he’s been reliving the emotions he felt during the World Cup in South Korea by cheering on Italy’s Under-20 side, who have reached the last 16 in Poland: “If they carry on what they’re doing, they can go all the way.” And this is exactly what the Under-21s want to do: “When you play a European Championship on home soil, you’ve got more responsibility on your shoulders because there’s pressure from the media, with there being high expectations for the team to win. It’s our duty to try to do this.”

Another afternoon training session is in store for the Azzurrini, who are putting in the hard work on a daily basis: “The training camp has begun well,” said Orsolini, who was born in 1997. There’s good cohesion and we’re a close-knit group who look to enjoy ourselves a lot. We’re calm and relaxed, and we’re ready for our opening match against Spain.” In the next few days, there will be a full group again as players called up for the full National Team by Mancini arrive. The competition will increase but so will the quality of a team that certainly has talent: “The Federation considers this tournament to be important. The fact that players from the senior side are being brought in to play sends out a big message. This provides extra motivation and is a positive thing – these are players who can help us out and provide us with a boost in technical terms.

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Emil Audero (Sampdoria), Alex Meret (Napoli), Lorenzo Montipò (Benevento);
Defenders: Claud Adjapong (Sassuolo), Alessandro Bastoni (Parma), Kevin Bonifazi (Spal), Arturo Calabresi (Bologna), Davide Calabria (Milan), Fabio De Paoli (Chievo Verona), Federico Dimarco (Parma), Sebastiano Luperto (Napoli), Giuseppe Pezzella (Genoa), Filippo Romagna (Cagliari);
Midfielders: Francesco Cassata (Frosinone), Gaetano Castrovilli (Cremonese), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Rolando Mandragora (Udinese), Alessandro Murgia (Spal), Sandro Tonali (Brescia), Luca Valzania (Frosinone);
Forwards: Federico Bonazzoli (Padova), Patrick Cutrone (Milan), Simone Edera (Bologna), Gabriele Moncini (Cittadella), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Vittorio Parigini (Torino).

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

Friday 31 May
10:30 Training (first 15 minutes open to the press)
13:30 Press conference with a player

Saturday 1 June
13:30 Press conference with a player
17:00 Training (first 15 minutes open to the press)

Sunday 2 June
17:00 Training (closed)

Monday 3 June
13:30 Press conference with a player
17:00 Training (first 15 minutes open to the press)

Tuesday 4 June
10:30 Training (closed)
17:00 Training (closed)

Wednesday 5 June
10:30 Training (closed)
13:30 Press conference with a player

Thursday 6 June
(Squad of 23 to be confirmed by 24:00)
10:30 Training/ Friendly (open to accredited media)

Friday 7 June
16:00 Press conference with the Coach
17:00 Training (first 15 minutes open to the press)

Saturday 8 June
10:30 Training (closed)
13:00 Lunch
Training camp to end and players return home

Media information

For the preliminary camp in Formello, media accreditation will be granted to Odg/AIPS card holders.
For the camp at Casteldebole from 10 June, media activities can be accessed by going through the UEFA Accreditations process.