Italy are optimistic about a possible return for captain Giorgio Chiellini, as the Azzurri continued their preparations for the match against Belgium on Friday.

Ciro Immobile, who has scored two goals in three appearances at the Euros, gave a long interview at the press conference today and spoke about his relationship with CT Roberto Mancini.

After the press conferences of today, Italy continued to prepare for the match against Belgium at the Federal Technical Centre in Coverciano.

The Azzurri’s stance on the kneeling ahead of games continues to get reactions, as they will take a knee ‘in solidarity’ with the Belgians ahead of the quarter-final in Munich.

Immobile wants to ‘cancel the past’ at EURO 2020

Captain Chiellini was the spokesman to confirm the Azzurri will kneel if the Belgium players do, and the Juventus veteran might be back in time to feature himself.

The 36-year-old sat out the last two games and is constantly monitored by the medical staff, but there’s a positive feeling that he could play against Romelu Lukaku alongside Leonardo Bonucci.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo said Italy ‘know Lukaku is a great player’ but stressed the Azzurri can’t forget about the other stars of the Belgium side, but it’s not certain if he will start at right-back.

Mancini is still waiting for Alessandro Florenzi, who spent last term on loan from Roma at Paris Saint-Germain.

Reports in Italy have suggested Mancini will wait until the last minute to decide who will start at right, with Rafael Toloi also eager to get the nod.

Mancini could base his decision on the presence of Real Madrid star Eden Hazard, who is not expected to recover in time after the suffering a muscle injury in the final minutes against Portugal.

Gianluigi Donnarumma and Leonardo Spinazzola are confirmed to start, but the great doubt lies in the middle of the park.

Nicolò Barella, Jorginho and Marco Verratti were expected to star in the middle of the park ahead of the competition, but Matteo Pessina and Manuel Locatelli have given the trident competition.

Federico Chiesa gave Italy a great boost against Austria, but it’s not certain he will get the go ahead before Domenico Berardi, who has been preferred from the first minute so far, with Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne more or less confirmed in attack.

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