Euro 2016: Italy boss Antonio Conte enlists help from an astronaut to help inspire his players ahead of Sweden showdown
ITALY coach Antonio Conte has summoned help from an astronaut to inspire his players ahead of Friday’s Euro 2016 game against Sweden in Toulouse.
Luca Parmitano – who became the first Italian to take part in a spacewalk in July 2013 – gave a talk to the Italy squad this week at the Casa Azzurri in Montpellier, the team’s headquarters in France.
Astronaut Luca Parmitano has been with Antonio Conte and his Italy squad this week in a bid to motivate the players before their big Group E game with Sweden
Parmitano, 39, stressed the importance of teamwork, motivation and preparation, something soon-to-be Chelsea boss Conte has tried to transmit to his players since he took the reins in 2014.
And the astronaut said: “I’m not a football expert but I am a fan of the national team.
“Even we astronauts are a small team, we train in a rigorous manner and we wear a blue suit.
Italy boss Antonio Conte has enlisted the services of national astronaut Luca Parmitano in a bid to inspire his players ahead of their showdown with SwedenItaly boss Antonio Conte is preparing for his team’s Group E showdown with Sweden by enlisting the services of NASA astronaut Luca Parmitano to give a talk
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Italy’s players have been treated to a pep talk from astronaut Luca Parmitano ahead of the Sweden game on the order of soon-to-be Chelsea boss Antonio Conte
“Just like the players of the national team, we are aware that we represent Italy’s image around the world.”
Italy, runners-up at Euro 2012, arrived in France minus star players and with a squad that many believed to be the country’s weakest in a long time.
Antonio Contes Italy put in a solid display in beating Belgium 2-0 in their opening Group E game, thanks to goals from Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano PelleAntonio Conte’s Italy will take on Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his Sweden team-mates on the back of an inspirational pep talk from national astronaut Luca Parmitano
However, Conte’s men showed a workmanlike display in their 2-0 triumph over Belgium in their Group E opener on Monday, thanks to goals from Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle.
After the game against Sweden, Italy end the group stages against Ireland in Lille next Wednesday.
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