The year couldn’t have begun better. At the Stadio Erasmo Iacovone, the Under-19 National Team ran out 1-0 winners over Turkey. The deciding goal game at the end of the first half, with Fabio Miretti converting from the penalty spot after Napoli striker Giuseppe Ambrosino had been fouled in the area. 

With the elite round of European qualification in Finland between 23 and 29 March in mind, Carmine then replaced the whole team at the break in order to see the whole squad in action. Throughout the game, Turkey also made a host of changes – seven in total. In the end, the Azzurrini comfortably saw the game out to come away with their first win of 2022.

After the match, the Head Coach had the following to say: “It was a good performance. The lads played as a team, were compact and put some good moves together. There were a lot of young guys out there, with some involved in the squad for the first time. They made a good impression.” As regards European qualifying: “There won’t be the opportunity to play other friendlies. The lads will be playing a lot of football in the Primavera division, and we’ll have to evaluate how they’re doing physically when the time comes. In Finland, we’ll face two high-quality sides in Belgium and Germany, as well as the hosts. Once we’re there, we’ll go for it.”

Italy 1-0 Turkey

Goals: Miretti 43’ (pen.)

ITALIA (4-3-1-2) : Desplanches (46' Zacchi); Terracciano (46' Gentile), Ghilardi (46' Palomba), Stivanello (46' Bertola), Pieragnolo (46' Turicchia); Miretti (C) (46' Maressa), Faticanti (46' Giovane [C]), Cavuoti (46' Valente); Hasa (46' Vergara); Palazzino (46' D'Agostino), Ambrosino (46' Mancini). Head Coach: Nunziata.

TURKEY (4-2-3-1) : Moradaoğlu (81' Özkanlı); Yiğit (81' Aksoy), Şahindere [C], Eraslan, Gülay (69' Sarıbaş); Karaal (46' Şenyurt), Zehir (69' Şanlıtürk); Sönmezsoy, Çeltik (C) (69' Doğ), Aydın (59' Cebeci); Altunbaş. Head Coach: Zayim.

Referee: Ivan Pezzuto ; Linesmen: Alessandro Cipressa and Giuseppe Perrotti. Fourth Official: Luca Massimi

Booked: 13' Karaal, 14' Eraslan, 75' Altunbaş, 77' Maressa, 85' D'Agostino.