Italy-Estonia on the pitch at 8.45pm
The first from Evani's coach
Never before has a blue retreat been so complicated.
The summons arrive in dribs and drabs and above all the coach is missing, also stopped by Covid like many others and luckily asymptomatic for him.
So instead of Roberto Mancini, at the Franchi for the friendly match against Estonia, there will be deputy Alberico Evani.
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'I would never have imagined it, it will be a great emotion, even if I would have preferred that this had not happened and Roberto was here, for his health and because all the staff and the team need him.
However, it is as if he were there, we talk several times a day, he follows the training sessions live, he participates in the meetings, the group feels close to him and we will do everything not to disappoint him ''.
While waiting for yet another buffer scheduled for Thursday (in case of negativity he could then reach Coverciano and be on the bench next Sunday in Reggio Emilia for the first of his Nations League matches against Group 1 leaders Poland), Mancini is following the work of the Azzurri via Skype from their home in Rome.
In short, like many works remotely, in the meantime the head of delegation Gianluca Vialli has arrived in Coverciano and in the evening Bonucci, Insigne, Berardi and Jorginho will join the others while D'Ambrosio and Romagnoli arrived in Florence last night.
"It is a complicated retreat - underlined Evani - but the team spirit makes us feel calm and these difficulties could help us to grow even more".
As for the stop imposed by some ASLs and the fears of the clubs for their members, he preferred to cut short: "We understand the needs of the companies given the situation but we do not enter into controversy".
The position expressed by Salvatore Sirigu who will be captain of Italy is more decisive given that El Shaarawy (a presence in blue more than the Turin goalkeeper) should initially start on the bench: `` Being a particular moment, the doubts of the clubs can be understandable but in the national team the protocols are even more rigid, we travel safely and always with a mask, unfortunately the pandemic is not controllable but it is important to follow prevention as much as possible.
In short - Sirigu reiterated - I do not think the national team should be hindered, its importance is undisputed and obviously it is also for the players who are part of it, wearing the shirt is a source of pride for anyone ''.
Even on the occasion of friendlies like tonight's: '' Woe to take Estonia lightly, we only have to lose - Evani's warning - instead we must achieve a result in order not to lose positions in the ranking.
So we will do everything we can not to disappoint Mancini and the fans.
It will be an opportunity for many interesting young players and for those who have played less so far '', underlined the deputy coach.
In the initial 4-3-3 Bastoni are announced, Luca Pellegrini in a ballot with Emerson, Lasagna in the middle of the trident with Bernardeschi and Grifo.
In midfield chance for Soriano, Tonali and Gagliardini.