Match of the Heart: National political team wins on penalties. Renzi posts hug with Schlein

"The match was extraordinary and miraculous". This was said to LaPresse Al Bano, coach of the National Singers' Team, who on the evening of 16 July at the Gran Sasso stadium in L'Aquila took on the National Political Team in the Partita del cuore. The national political team won on penalties. 'To see the politicians all together and all in the same direction was a miracle,' concluded the singer-songwriter. The match will be broadcast deferred on Wednesday 17 July, on Rai1, starting at 21.25.

The embrace between Matteo Renzi and Elly Schlein during the match opened the photogallery posted by the Iv leader on social media. "It's nice to play with other parliamentarians together with the Nazionale Cantanti for the Partita del Cuore (Match of the Heart)," the former premier wrote in the post accompanying the sequence of shots. "The goal? To raise funds with 45585 to help paediatric hospitals. An evening in the name of solidarity, all together. It is the magical power of the ball'.

On the sidelines were the two coaches Ignazio La Russa and Pier Ferdinando Casini. The President of the Senate and the Senator, former President of the Chamber of Deputies, led the team captained by Lorenzo Fontana. The task of defending the goal of the politicians was entrusted to the Minister of the Economy Giancarlo Giorgetti (the second goalkeeper was undersecretary Luigi D'Eramo) and for the government there was the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policies Maria Teresa Bellucci. The undersecretaries for the executive were Alberto Barachini and Alessandro Morelli. Mixed instead is the representation of the Chambers: from the Senate, Francesco Boccia, Maurizio Gasparri, Ada Lopreiato, Lucio Malan, Luca Pirondini, Matteo Renzi, Licia Ronzulli (Vice-President); from the Chamber, Anna Ascani (Vice-President), Angelo Bonelli, Chiara Braga, Alessandro Cattaneo, Giuseppe Conte, Marco Furfaro, Maria Grazia di Maggio, Leonardo Donno, Nicola Fratoianni,Ettore Licheri, Maurizio Lupi, Luigi Marattin, Jacopo Morrone, Giorgio Mulè (Vice-President), Andrea Pellicini, Laura Ravetto, Matteo Richetti and Elly Schlein. Among the presidents of the Region will be Marco Marsilio and, for the first citizens, the mayor Pierluigi Biondi. There are also many names of artists performing on the occasion: Al Bano,R Riccardo Cocciante, Rita Pavone, Paolo Vallesi, Edoardo Bennato, Simone Cristicchi and Amara.

A 'magical night' for charity in a city that 15 years after the tragic earthquake is also seeking rebirth through major events. Before the start of the 'match of the heart', La Russa, in the role of coach of the parliamentary national team, gathered the players in a circle and announced the line-up. 'On the attack, together...Schlein and Conte'. "I am a bit rusty but I will give my best. Sport then is important because it means inclusion. We are here to give a signal we are here for a good cause,' said Pd secretary Elly shortly before taking the field.

Lots of enthusiasm and colour, therefore, in a crowd of great occasions as more than 6,000 tickets were sold. Italians will be able to enjoy the spectacle, the shows and the funny jokes. The intention was to entertain the public for a charitable purpose, with the proceeds donated to support the paediatrics department of the San Salvatore Hospital in L'Aquila and the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in Rome. The solidarity number 45585 dedicated to the Accoglienza project of the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital will be active until the broadcast on Rai1.