Ventura to build on Conte's reign to take Italy to the top
FLORENCE, Italy (AP) - New Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura hopes to build on the foundations of Antonio Conte's reign as he looks to take the Azzurri back to the top again.
Conte left for Chelsea in the offseason after guiding Italy to the quarterfinals of the European Championship.
Ventura knows Conte well, having replaced him as Bari coach in 2009.
"I speak with Antonio a lot and I heard from him three minutes ago, too," Ventura said in a news conference on Monday. "He wished me good luck.
"Conte's team was based on organization, team spirit, and compactness. If we add some details we can once again be one of the main challengers."
Italy hosts France in a friendly in Bari on Thursday then visits Israel four days later to open World Cup qualifying.
Ventura has kept 15 players from the Euro 2016 squad.
"There is not really time in three days to change something in the organization," Ventura said. "I would have kept almost all the group which did well during the European Championship, but it's clear that there are contingent situations like the fact that (Simone) Zaza and other players have not played for a while.
"We have included some youngsters but on Sept. 2 the under-21 team will play a very important match so we will see if I manage to keep all the youngsters or I have to lend them one or two."
AC Milan's 17-year-old goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, received his first callup to Italy's squad on Saturday, as did clubmate Alessio Romagnoli, Torino forward Andrea Belotti, and Genoa striker Leonardo Pavoletti.
Ventura led his first Italy training early Monday, and was to have another one in the afternoon.
"I had tears in my eyes today when I was back on the pitch after three months away," the former Torino coach said. "I had never been away from the pitch for so long, I couldn't wait to get back."
Ventura gave Leonardo Bonucci two days of compassionate leave as the Juventus defender's two-year-old son is seriously ill.
Ventura also revealed the players were preparing a tribute to the victims in central Italy of last week's devastating earthquake, which killed at least 290 people.