Udinese travel to Roma on Sunday looking to pick up where they left off before the international break – with Gabriele Cioffi insisting the interruption was a good thing for his team.
“The break came at the right time,” the coach told journalists on the eve of the game. “It's energised us because if you get called up it means you've been doing well.
“It gave [Jordan] Zemura joy and a sense of accomplishment. [Sandi] Lovric and [Jaka] Bijol helped Slovenia qualify, as did [Lazar] Samardzic with Serbia.
“With the players who stayed here we did a lot of work on areas we needed to improve."
After a positive start to his second spell in the Udinese dugout, Cioffi is not getting carried away.
"We need to keep repeating what we're doing day after day. Big teams think one match at a time. We have to think one day at a time. We must keep playing with the same mentality and the same humility we've had until now because we're going to have to really roll our sleeves up tomorrow."
The manager expects Roma to give his side a real test but one he insists they are ready for.
“When you play against top teams like Roma and coaches who have written football history you can't expect to go there and have everything go to plan. We must be ready to change and adapt to what Roma throw at us. We'll have to don our helmets and get through the tough spells in the game.
“Roma are a strong, physical side and [Romelu] Lukaku is unplayable for a lot of defenders but we'll fight brawn with brawn.
“I'm sure Roma won't underestimate us – though I'd like them to. If we're humble, if we're willing to dig in and if we play our own game, we can have our say and maybe give Roma a scare.”
Cioffi also explained that his everyone in the squad is pushing for the starting shirts, before explaining the penalty pecking order.
“Florian Thauvin and Simone Pafundi are perfectly ready to play in Serie A. Florian shows that every day and always works hard with a smile. It would be very easy for a player like him to take it easy. What does he need to prove after winning two World Cups with France U20s and the seniors? But he doesn't. He gives 100% because he and the others know how important it is for everyone to play their part.
“As for our penalty takers, [Roberto] Pereyra is our first taker and [Isaac] Success the second. After that I don't get into their decisions. What Tucu did last game was a nice gesture.”