On September 7 at 02:45, the first round of Group B in League A of the UEFA Nations League will see France host Italy at the Parc des Princes. Prior to the match, Italian captain Gianluigi Donnarumma attended a press conference.
Donnarumma said, “I have a good relationship with Mbappe, we are friends, but tomorrow we will be opponents. He has contributed a lot to his club and this city, and I believe he, along with all the French players, will receive a warm welcome from the fans, there’s no problem with that. While he was here, he gave everything, and a player has the right to make his own choices.”
“France has many talented players, so we will face a tough challenge. I don’t think there could be a better match than this. We are not the team everyone saw in the Euros, so I am very happy to face a great team like France. This is the beginning of a new era, we are all full of motivation, and there’s a lot of joy within the team. We must continue to maintain this state. I feel the cohesion within the team and everyone’s strong desire to prove themselves.”
“Both teams are strong, perhaps our Italian team has a slight advantage in experience, but I don’t think there are any favorites in this match. Their speed is fast, so we must be prepared to limit those risks as we practiced.”
“Balcola is a very good player, I think he has taken a step up this season. For my teammates, it’s hard to advise them on how to defend him because he’s very unpredictable, but I know him well enough to know some secrets.”
The former AC Milan goalkeeper is the most experienced player in the Italian national team, so despite being only 25 years old, he has become the captain of the Italian national team in this new term. He said, “Being captain makes me very proud. When we were young, we all dreamed of playing for Italy, and I feel a strong sense of responsibility. I like this challenge and want to enjoy it while helping others. The captain is a symbolic figure, but there are many leaders within a team. Marquinhos’ way of serving as captain at Paris Saint-Germain is an inspiration to me. I think the team made a strong response after the Euros, the atmosphere is different now, and I really like this atmosphere.”