© rajano27_

There's a subtle link between Sydney and Pescara. The journey of a young man who has decided to take the most difficult path, the one that leads through dusty fields, empty stands and early morning wake-ups. He's called Antonio Arena, and he's someone who, when you hear him speak, you understand that football is not just a game, it's something serious. 

© pescaracalcio.com

He was born on 10 February 2009, thousands of kilometres from Reggio Calabria. It all began in Sydney with a football school, Ucchino Football and then the Western Sydney Wanderers, where time really flew as things usually do when you're having fun. The call from Pescara in September 2023 changed his life. It wasn't just a move, it was a single route journey towards his dream. This year he has scored three goals in eleven appearances (552 minutes) with the Primavera side. But that's not all. The peak was on 7 March when he played in Silvio Baldini's first team against Lucchese. Antonio didn't just make his debut, replacing Thomas Alberti in the 66th minute, but he scored just eight minutes layer (74'), at 16 years and 25 days of age: the youngest ever player to make their debut and score in the Italian professional leagues. He is younger than Camarda who will play for the Under 19 side at 17:00 CET in Crotone against Latvia.This record could simply be a sign of things to come, because certain moments in football seem like destiny. 

© figc.it

"I have only ever wanted to play football", he says. This is a perfect quote from someone who has only ever wanted to dedicate their life to this game. There are no other ways to explain it. His idol? "Ronaldo, the Phenomenon". 

"The Azzurri jersey always brings up lots of emotions for me - the Pescara centre forward confesses - and I am honoured to wear it". And today, 15:30 CET, at 'Sveti Josip Radnik' stadium in Sesvete, in the first match of Group A1 against Slovakia he will wear it again. For the first time with the senior team who want to secure their spot in Albania, which will host the finals from 19 May to June 1, and for Qatar, where the World Cup will be held from 5 to 27 November. 

His mind is already there thinking about the next planes to catch. For someone who was born in another part of the world, leaving home at 14 years of age to pursue a dream, the journey never ends. 

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Alessandro Longoni (AC Milan), Andrea Maran (Modena);
Defenders: Benit Borasio (Juventus), Leonardo Noah Bovio (Inter), Laurence Adam Giani (Stoke City), Dauda Amihere Iddrisa (West Bromwich Albion), Jean Tryfose Mambuku (Stade de Reims), Luca Reggiani (Borussia Dortmund), Mattia Ridolfi (Cesena);
Midfielders: Alessio Baralla (Empoli), Christian Comotto (AC Milan), Andrea Luongo (Torino), Valerio Maccaroni (Roma), Vincenzo Prisco (Napoli), Federico Steffanoni (Atalanta);
Forwards: Antonio Arena (Pescara), Thomas Campaniello (Empoli), Destiny Onoguekhan Elimoghale (Juventus), Giuseppe Forte (Sampdoria), Samuele Inácio (Borussia Dortmund).

Staff - Coach: Massimiliano Favo; Head of the delegation: Filippo Corti; Vice coordinator of the youth sector: Daniele Zoratto; Assistant coach: Davide Cei; Goalkeeper coach: Davide Quironi; Athletic trainer: Adalberto Zamuner; Match analyst: Andrea Loiacono; Medics: Alessio Rossato and Andrea Serdoz; Physiotherapist: Enrico Matera and Giorgio Giannini; Nutritionist: Claudio Pecorella; Tutor: Stefano Presciutti; Press Official: Alessandro Paoli; Secretary: Massimo Petracchini.

UEFA European Under-17 Championship | Lega A | Gruppo A1

Matchday one (Wednesday 19 March)
12 CET: Ukraine vs. Croatia, 'Branko Čavlović-Čavlek' stadium in Karlovac
15.30 CET: Italy vs. Slovakia, 'Sveti Josip Radnik' stadium in Sesvete

Matchday two (Saturday 22 March)
12 CET: Italy vs. Ukraine, NK Lučko stadium in Lučko
15.30 CET: Croatia vs. Slovakia, 'Branko Čavlović-Čavlek' stadium in Karlovac

Matchday three (Tuesday 25 March)
15.30 CET: Croatia vs. Italy, NK Lučko stadium in Lučko
15.30 CET: Slovakia vs. Ukraine, 'Sveti Josip Radnik' stadium in Sesvete