«Many Israelis are against the war. Starting assistant against Israel, Ricci and Fagioli can also play together”

“We go to play the game with the hope of always convincing someone more, because I think that there are many Israelis who don’t want war and we always have to convince someone more that this is something that must end.” Thus the Italy coach, Luciano Spalletti, on Tg1 on the eve of the Nations League match with Israel. The technical commissioner also spoke in press conference.

Spalletti’s press conference

«This group is working with great commitment towards the right path of work, sweat, attachment to the shirt. The difficulty lies in the fact that growth has steps that are difficult to climb. Sbut that the team manages to take control of the match. We will have to be able to show some superiority around the ball, without stopping and giving points of reference».

OPPONENT – «Match full of difficulties, Israel knows how to play football and we will need to have balance. I will give the lineup tomorrow also due to the delicate nature of the match. They are a team that sometimes waits with a unique low block, while other times it comes to get you. Their placements will need to be interpreted».

VICAR – «He will play against Israel».

BEANS AND URCHINS – «They can play together due to their characteristics but at the moment I’m alternating them in the control room. A lot of balls pass through that area so we need players capable of getting rid of the marking.”

RETURN TO UDINE – «I had a great time in Udine. I have dealt with many strong presidents, like the patron Pozzo. I’m happy to play a match in this stadium».

Alert in Udine ahead of Italy-Israel: what’s happening

All eyes are on the Italy-Israel Nations League football match which will be held on Monday at the ‘Friuli’ in Udine and there is no lack of concern, also because the match will be preceded by the pro Pal demonstration which will start at 5pm from Piazza della Repubblica. «The attention is obviously high, so much so that the prefect has adopted security measures with the use of numerous law enforcement operators, also asking for reinforcements which have been granted to him. I know he has been working on the safety device for some time in view of the match. I hope that everything goes well, but I won’t deny that there is concern», underlines to Adnkronos the mayor of Udine Alberto Felice De Toni who will be in the stands of ‘Friuli’ on Monday to watch the match between the two national teams. Regarding the pro-Palestine demonstration, the mayor hopes for a peaceful procession until the end.

Returning to the sponsorship of the Italy-Israel match (first denied, then granted), he puts the facts back in line: «I had asked the Football Federation if it was possible to donate the proceeds of the match to war victims and therefore associate the sporting event with another centered on dialogue and peace. But unfortunately it wasn’t possible. So I did not grant patronage, but I reserved a different decision if there had been either a ‘ceasefire’ or an initiative linked to the match. In the end we managed to organize, thanks to the collaboration of Rodine Cittadella della Pace, a post-match event inviting the Minister of Sport and the Football Federation. To date, many institutions have joined what will be an opportunity for dialogue and cohesion, including the University of Udine, the Udine Foundation, Confindustria Udine, Confartigianato Udine, the CGIL, the CISL and the Union of Jewish Communities. We are now waiting for the Islamic communities to join. In short, this initiative which will take place in Arezzo has allowed me to provide patronage.”

The area around the Udine stadium is changing in view of the Nations League match of Spalletti’s Azzurri against Israel, scheduled for Monday at 8.45pm. Two days ago the last permitted event, the basketball match at PalaCarnera, took place – specially anticipated. Then work began on installing barriers over two meters high along the entire perimeter which will make access to the area in front of the plant impassable. In this way it will be possible to proceed with a series of pre-filtering – with the meticulous verification of the supporters, in the presence of 450 stewards – before reaching the classic turnstiles of the Bluenergy Stadium, where the approximately 7 thousand spectators, who have purchased the ticket so far, will be able to use their barcode. To avoid any type of action, both vandalistic and terrorist, enormous bollards are also being set up, which have the aim of preventing vehicles from being thrown at speed into the crowd, in the pedestrian area between the car parks and the pitch, as happened in some dramatic actions, for example in Barcelona and Nice.

Mobile units are arriving from all over Northern Italy to monitor the match. The bomb squad has instead been entrusted with the task of clearing the red zone starting this evening. Once the operation is finished, Access will only be allowed to a very limited number of Udinese personnel and training staffwho will resume preparation on Monday afternoon in view of the next round away match at Milan’s home ground in the nearby Bruseschi sports centre, but using some of the changing rooms in the stadium. However, the Bianconeri will also have to leave the facility a few hours before the match Nations League to allow the latest revision contained in the stringent safety protocols adopted. As for the possibility of infiltrators at the pro-Palestine demonstration, which will parade through the streets of the center in the late afternoon on Monday, there are no particular concerns from the police. In any case, it will be impossible for those going to the march to cross the security system arranged in concentric circles in the many kilometers that separate the Friuli stadium from the city center, where the protest demonstration will end.

Italy-Israel: time and where to see it on TV and streaming

Italy-Israel will be broadcast live on TV by Rai on the Rai Uno channel and, in HD version, on 501. It will also be visible in streaming from Italy via RaiPlay, also available via app. The match on the fourth day of group B of League A of the UEFA Nations League will be played on Monday 14 October at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine. Kick-off at 8.45pm.