From Ta’Qali to Sassuolo, 128 days later Italy will play Portugal once more. Four months after the victory in the Under 19 Euros final in Malta, the two sides face each other at an Under 20s level. At the Enzo Ricci Stadium in Sassuolo (14:30 CET, live on Rai 2), Italy will head out in search of their fourth consecutive win in the Elite League after the victories in the Czech Republic in September, in Catanzaro against Poland in October and in Doncaster last Thursday against England. Supporting Alberto Bollini’s squad will be 1200 children from schools around Sassuolo at the Ricci where Italy will play for the fourth time in history: the latest was a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic last November with goals from Ambrosino and Cassano.

There have been 10 previous meetings between Italy and Portugal at Under 20 level: the record counts 4 Azzurrini wins, 3 draws, and 3 Portugal wins. The last match, also part of the Elite League, was won 2-1 by Italy in September 2022 thanks to goals from Cesare Casadei and Cristian Volpato, the latter currently plays for Sassuolo. Italy is preparing for the match at the Mapei Football Center where the Sassuolo Organisational Director, Andrea Fabris, welcomed this team this morning on behalf of the club and gifted Bollini a Sassuolo shirt.

Of the current Under 20 side, 10 players were part of the victory in Malta: goalkeepers Mastrantonio and Palmisani; defenders Dellavalle, Missori and Regonesi; midfielders Amatucci, Faticanti, Hasa and Pisilli, and forward D’Andrea. Hasa, scorer of a brace against England and winner of the Best Player Award at the U19 Euros, emphasised: “I have many memories of that Euros. Portugal will want revenge, but we are ready”.

Germany’s win in Romania brought them back to the top of the Elite League standings with Italy right behind them. Given the Germans' defeat to England, Italy has the chance to overtake them. Bollini explained: “We are playing in a very prestigious tournament and we expect a difficult game against a very technically capable opponent that has much history. We need to be good in tackles, without ever giving up play: this is the only way to achieve a big result like the one against England”.

FERRARI. Ahead of taking to the field, the Italy Under 20s visited the Ferrari plant in Maranello. The team and staff were welcomed by Chief Communications Officer Francesca Montini. The players were able to get a close look at the assembly line, the headquarters of Scuderia Ferrari and the cars in the Classic Department. They then had the chance to admire the Ferrari 296 GTB, the Berlinetta is a rear-mid engine V6 hybrid vehicle. Bollini emphasised: “Ferrari is a reflection of this country’s huge technological heritage, experience, and passion. Being here is an inspiration for all of us to strive for the highest level of excellence and represent Italy with the same pride as the people from Maranello”.

Squad list 

Goalkeepers: Davide Mastrantonio (Monterosi Tuscia), Lorenzo Palmisani (Olbia);
Defenders: Samuele Angori (Pontedera), Giovanni Bonfanti (Atalanta), Alessandro Dellavalle (Torino), Alessandro Fontanarosa (Cosenza), Alessandro Marcandalli (Reggiana), Filippo Missori (Sassuolo), Iacopo Regonesi (Atalanta),  Filippo Terracciano (Verona);
Midfielders: Lorenzo Amatucci (Fiorentina), Giacomo Faticanti (Lecce), Luis Hasa (Juventus), Lorenzo Ignacchiti (Pontedera), Tommaso Milanese (Ascoli), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Federico Zuccon (Cosenza);
Forwards: Nicholas Bonfanti (Modena), Claudio Cassano (Cittadella), Luigi Cherubini (Roma), Luca D'Andrea (Catanzaro), Daniele Montevago (Gubbio), Antonio Raimondo (Ternana)

Staff – Head Coach: Alberto Bollini: Assistant Coach: Marco Scarpa; Delegation Head: Evaristo Beccalossi; Fitness Coach: Nicolò Varesco;  Youth Goalkeeping Area Coordinator: Gaetano Petrelli; Goalkeeping Coach: Francesco Antonioli; Match Analyst: Luca Dalmasso; Doctors: Carmelo Papotto, Raffaele Iorio, Lorenzo Ticca; Physiotherapists: Angelo Cartocci, Giuseppe Galli; Nutritionist: Alessio Colli; Secretary: Luca Gatto

ELITE LEAGUE 2023-24

Monday 20 November
Germany 2-3 England

Tuesday 21 November
14:00 CET – ITALY vs. Portugal (Sassuolo)

Standings (number of games played in brackets): Germany (6) 11, ITALY (4) 10, Portugal (5) 9, Poland (4) 7, Norway (3), England (4) and Romania (5) 6, Czech Republic (5) 0

ITALY’S CALENDAR
Thursday 21 March 2024: Romania vs. Italy
Monday 25 March 2024: Italy vs. Norway

Previous results

Thursday 7 September
Germany 1-1 ITALY
Romania 2-0 Czech Republic

Friday 8 September
Poland 4-0 Portugal

Monday 11 September
Poland 1-1 Germany
Czech Republic 0-1 ITALY

Tuesday 12 September
Portugal 2-1 Romania

Thursday 12 October
Romania 2-0 England
Norway 2-1 Czech Republic

Friday 13 October
Portugal 1-2 Germany
ITALY 1-0 Poland

Monday 16 October
Norway 5-0 Romania

Tuesday 17 October
Germany 4-2 Czech Republic
England 1-2 Portugal

Thursday 16 November
England 0-3 ITALY

Friday 17 November
Portugal 2-1 Norway
Romania 0-1 Germany
Czech Republic 0-1 Poland