Benvenuto Conte

Italy’s new head coach Antonio Conte led yesterday his first training session. Conte spoke clearly: his team has to be "ruthless and humble". He also said he was "not prejudiced" against new Liverpool forward, Mario Balotelli. "Balotelli? I don't have any prejudice...Who's to say that (players) who aren't here now won't come back, and vice versa," Conte told. "The man is just as important as the player," was Conte's motto soon after his appointment and former Juventus coach stayed faithful to their own principles dropping Balotelli from his first squad for the upcoming games against Netherlands and Norway. Conte would put his trademark on this side so a lot of defensive compactness and midfield speed is expected. They are the tactical principles he utilized to led Juventus to three consecutive scudettos under his regime. Conte has been given the difficult task of restoring Italy's football pride and Italians love for their National Team. One of Conte's first tasks will be to find the right players to suit his system out from a Serie A where, as the same coach pointed out, top teams usually play without "Italians on the field, or just one or two." Conte will have two years at his disposal as his contract will take him through the 2016 European Championship.

Below are the 24-men roster and Italy's schedule.

Italy’s squad:
Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Padelli (Torino), Perin (Genoa), Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain);
Defenders: Astori (Roma), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Paletta (Parma), Ranocchia (Inter);
Midfielders: Candreva (Lazio), Darmian (Torino), De Rossi (Roma), De Sciglio (Milan), Florenzi (Roma), Giaccherini (Sunderland), Maggio (Napoli), Marchisio (Juventus), Parolo (Lazio), Pasqual (Fiorentina), Poli (Milan), Verratti (Paris Saint Germain);
Strikers: Destro (Roma), El Shaarawy (Milan), Giovinco (Juventus), Immobile (Borussia Dortmund), Osvaldo (Inter), Zaza (Sassuolo).

Italy’s schedule:
Saturday 30th August
Conte’s call-up announcement in the evening
Sunday 31st August
00:00 CEST    Meeting at Federal Technical Centre in Coverciano
Monday 1st September
10:30 CEST    Training (open to the press– entry from 11.30)
12:15               Coach’s press conference
15:30               Training (closed to the press)
Tuesday 2nd September
10:30               Training (closed to the press)
15:00               Press conference (players)
15:30               Training (open to the press for the first 30’ minutes)
Wednesday 3rd September
10:30               Training (closed to the press)
15:30               Flight from Florence to Bari
16:50               Arrival in Bari, travel to S.Nicola’s stadium for training session (open to the press). Following training, Conte’s press conference with one player at S. Nicola stadium
Thursday 4th September
20:45               Friendly – ITALY-NETHERLANDS
Coach’s press conference/mixed zone (players) after the match
Friday 5th September
10:30               Flight from Bari to Florence
11:55               Arrival in Florence and move to Coverciano
15:00               Press update: medical situation by Prof. Castellacci
15:30               Training (closed to the press)
Saturday 6th September
10:30               Training (closed to the press)
15:00               Press conference (players)
15:30               Training (open to the press for the first 30 minutes)
Sunday 7th September
10:30               Training (open to the press – entry from 11:30)
12:30               Press conference (players)
15:30               Training (closed to the press)
Monday 8th September  
10:30               Training (closed to the press)
15:00               Flight from Florence to Oslo
18:00               Arrival in Oslo and transfer to Ullevaal stadium
19:00               Training (open to the press for the first 15 minutes)
Conte’s press conference with one player at Ullevaal stadium after training
Tuesday 9th September
20:45                     EQ match NORWAY-ITALY
meeting with press after the match
00:45                     Return to Italy