We were last in action a month and a half ago when, at the Euros in Slovakia, Italy were knocked out by England in the semi-finals but still booked their sport at the World Cup in Indonesia next May. This is a completely new-look Under-19 side, with Alberto Bollini at the helm in place of Carmine Nunziata, who has gone to work with his Under-20s for the World Cup.

Only seven of this current squad have played at this level before (Missori, Stivanello, Hasa, Kumi, Maressa and Mancini), while Bologna defender Riccardo Stivanello is the only one left from that squad that went to the Euros. Nearly all of the new boys are 2004s, save for two 2005s in Werder Bremen’s Cristian Chiarodia and SPAL’s Filippo Saiani.

This Albania friendly is a chance for Alberto Bollini to get a first look at the squad ahead of the start of European Championship qualifying in Poland from 21 to 27 September, where Italy will take on their hosts, as well as Estonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. The top two teams will go through to the Elite Round, where seven places for the final tournament in Malta are up for grabs.

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Nicola Bagnolini (Bologna), Davide Mastrantonio (Triestina), Matteo Rizzo (Pro Vercelli);
Defenders: Andrea Bozzolan (Milan), Fabio Cristian Chiarodia (Werder Bremem), Lorenzo Dellavalle (Juventus), Gabriele Guarino (Empoli), Michael Olabode Kayode (Fiorentina), Filippo Missori (Roma), Iacopo Regonesi (Atalanta), Filippo Saiani (SPAL), Riccardo Stivanello (Bologna);
Midfielders: Federico Accornero (Genoa), Lorenzo Amatucci (Fiorentina), Giulio Doratiotto (Juventus), Luis Hasa (Juventus), Lorenzo Ignacchiti (Empoli), Justin Kumi (Sassuolo), Tommaso Maressa (Juventus), Riccardo Pagano (Roma), Andrea Palella (Genoa), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma);
Attackers: Tommaso Mancini (Vicenza), Antonio Raimondo (Bologna), Nicolò Turco (Juventus), Samuele Vignato (Monza);