By Anna Italia
Follow me in Twitter @ItalianSerieA

Italy Head Coach Cesare Prandelli meeting for the first 2013 Friendly Game with the 25 players on Monday 4 February 2013 at the Technical Center of Coverciano.  Prandelli preparing the International Friendly Game, Netherlands vs Italy to be played on Wednesday 6 February 2013 in Amsterdam. Italy are preparing towards the FIFA 2014 World Cup qualification.  The second friendly game is scheduled on March 21 against Brazil in Geneve.  The first Qualification game is on March 26 against Malta.   The called up players for the Italian National Football squad met today at noon in Covercinao.   Prandelli  had the first training with the players at 15:00.   Among the news is that Juventus forward Sebastian Giovinco had to return home as suffering a contusion on his right leg during the Serie A Week 23 game against Chievo on Sunday 3 February,  Chievo 1 - 2 Juventus

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Monday 4 February - Lunedì 4 Febbraio 2013

h. 12.00  Meeting at the Technical Center of Coverciano
               Raduno presso il Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano

h. 13.30 Coach Prandelli and players meeting with the press
              Incontro con la stampa del Commissario tecnico e dei calciatori

h. 15.00 Training (open to the press)
               Allenamento (aperto alla stampa)   

Prandelli satisfied to find a "more serene and motivated" Mario Balotelli now that he is playing with AC Milan transferring from Manchester City.  

Prandelli saying, "I am happy that he has returned to Italy.  We have found a kid smiling more and available. He has regained the serenity that he had lost with certain extra football situation that were unbearable.  Now, we can control him better in every sense since he is in Milan.  Even though without wanting it, Mario has become an important celebrity.  He is a predestined one, but now he must have people talking about his football just like yesterday against Udinese.  This is what we have talked in the last phone conversations."

Following training, Prandelli projects to have in the lineup against Netherlands the duo "Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy."  For Prandelli, the fact they are playing now in the same team is an advantage for the national team.  "It's not the time for definite choices, but I am thinking about it.  We had already thought for this tandem in August with France, then, we had seen their great potential.  To win the World Cup with them and also make me a crest? If we win, I will do it even double."

Italian National Football Squad Training - Monday 4 February 2013
 
After the press conference, Italy Head Coach Prandelli had the first training in Coverciano.  As reported by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), training included recovery session for those players in the last Serie A game.  Tactical work and a practice match for those who did not play on the weekend.   Prandelli trying the 4-3-3 formation with Santon, Astori, Gastaldello and Peluso, in the midfielder Daniele De Rossi, Verratti, and Giaccherini, in the attack Antonio Candreva, Pablo Osvaldo and Giaccherini.   

Prandelli is scheduling a morning session on Tuesday in Coverciano and then depart at 16:00 from Florence to Netherlands.  The Italian National team will check the Amsterdan Arena  in the afternoon.
  
Photo archive.- FIGC website

Italian National team line up against Denmark, October 16, 2012


Here are the 25 players called up for the Italian National Football Team by head coach Cesare Prandelli.  Note that Giovinco could not make it and had to return home on Monday 4 February.

Goalkeepers / Portieri: Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Napoli), Marchetti (Lazio), Sirigu (Paris St. Germain);

Defenders / Difensori: Abate (Milan), Astori (Cagliari), Barzagli (Juventus), Gastaldello (Sampdoria), Peluso (Juventus), Ranocchia (Inter), Santon (Newcastle);

Midfielders / Centrocampisti: Candreva (Lazio), De Rossi (Roma), Diamanti (Bologna), Florenzi (Roma), Giaccherini (Juventus), Montolivo (Milan), Nocerino (Milan), Pirlo (Juventus), Verratti (Pars St. Germain);

Forwards / Attaccanti: Balotelli (Milan), El Shaarawy (Milan), Gilardino (Bologna), Osvaldo (Roma).

 

Schedule - Calendar:  Italian National Football Team until  Wednesday 6 February 2013

             
Tuesday 5 February - Martedì 5 Febbraio 2013

h. 10.30 Training (open to the press) and at the end meeting with press (Coach and players)
              Allenamento (aperto alla stampa)
              Al termine incontro con la stampa (Commissario tecnico e calciatori)

h. 16.00 Departure from Florence to Amsterdam
              Partenza volo charter da Firenze ad Amsterdam

h. 18.00 Arrival in Amsterda and transfer to the Stadium Amsterdam Arena.
              Arrivo volo ad Amsterdam e trasferimento allo Stadio Amsterdam Arena per il sopralluogo sul campo

Wednesday 6 February - Mercoledì 6 Febbraio 2013

h. 20.30 Friendly Game, Netherlands vs Italy
              Gara amichevole OLANDA-ITALIA
              At the end meeting with the press and transferring to the Airport.
              Al termine incontro con la stampa e trasferimento all’aeroporto di Amsterdam

h. 00.45  Departure in Charter flight from Amsterday to Italy.
               Partenza volo charter da Amsterdam per rientro in Italia


 
 



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