Defeat, but with heads held high. The National Under-21 team were beaten 4-2 by Germany in the last test of 2022. At the Stadio Del Conero in Ancona, in front of more than 5,000 spectators who did not give up despite the incessant rain that also affected the match and the conditions of the pitch, the Germans won thanks to Huseinbasic's goal in the first half and Samardzic, Schade and Malone's goals in the second half. In the middle, after Germany's first three goals, Matteo Cancellieri scored twice for an Italy side that finished with nine players due to the sending off of Cittadini and Bellanova. "It was always an uphill battle," commented Italian coach Paolo Nicolato. "There were some mistakes, which could have been avoided, but we saw lots of good signs, such as the possession in the first 20 minutes and the pride of these players. We take home a lot of experience, which is what we need. Unfortunately, when we were chasing the game, we conceded two penalties. I will have to watch the game again, but the feeling is that we played a good match against opponents who, it must be said, are stronger than us at the moment.

THE MATCH. Nicolato, in contrast to the last tests against England and Japan, deployed Italy with a four-man midfield and two men (Cambiaghi and Vignato) behind Colombo. At the back, an unchanged defence with Cittadini, Pirola and Ruggeri. For Germany, led by the Italian-German Antonio Di Salvo, there were two players playing in Serie A were on the pitch: Thiaw (Milan) and Samardzic (Udinese). The first chance for the Germans came from Schade in the 11th minute: the diagonal shot, however, slipped just wide to the right of Carnesecchi, who was back between the Under 21 goal posts after shoulder surgery. Italy, on the other hand, made themselves dangerous in the 18th minute from a corner kick by Esposito: Colombo's header was put into the corner by Atubolu. Three minutes later, Samardzic's left-footed shot from 20 yard out went just wide. Carnesecchi, on the other hand, had no chance in the 23rd minute when Huseinbasic, after winning a rebound in the middle of the area with Cittadini, had plenty of time to send the goalkeeper the wrong way. Italy's reaction came with another header by Colombo from Esposito's free-kick: Atubolu saved it with one hand.

In the 7th minute of the second half - after Nicolato's tactical change, which saw the return of a five-man midfield, with Vignato's substitution - Germany doubled the lead with a splendid Samardzic's free kick. Italy did not lose heart: Cambiaghi's cross from the left and Bellanova's header was saved on the line by Thiaw. The Germans struck again though with Schade's right-footed shot behind Carnesecchi. Even after the third, the Azzurrini kept attacking, but Colombo squandered an opportunity just a touch away from Atubolu. In the 59th minute the first three changes for Nicolato came: off went Cambiaghi, Vignato and Colombo, and on came Bove, Cancellieri and Lucca.

It was the Lazio striker, on 21 minutes, who anticipated Dardai in the box and volleyed past Atubolu to make it 3-1. It was a goal that had the effect of reigniting the game: eight minutes later, a low cross from Quagliata set up another strike for Cancellieri, this time with his left. However, two sending offs in the 85th and 86th minutes dampened Italy's hopes of a comeback: first Cittadini was sent off for stopping Malone, who had headed the ball into the net, and then Bellanova, who received a second yellow card for a handball in the box. From the penalty spot, Malone converted, with the ball passing under the arm of Carnesecchi. In the final minutes, there were Under-21 debuts for Casadei and Terracciano, after Volpato's earlier in the match.

ITALY 2-4 GERMANY

GOALS: 23' Huseinbasic (G), 52' Samardzic (G), 55' Schade (G), 65', 74' Cancellieri (I), 88' Malone (G)
ITALY: Carnesecchi; Cittadini, Pirola, Ruggeri (71' Volpato, 90' Viti); Bellanova, Esposito (71' Ranocchia), Rovella (90' Terracciano), Quagliata; Cambiaghi (59' Cancellieri, 90' Casadei), Vignato (59' Bove); Colombo (59' Lucca). Subs: Caprile, Turati, Calafiori, Dalle Mura, Tongya. Coach: Nicolato
GERMANY: Atubolu; Fischer (60' Beyer), Bisseck (60' Dardai), Thiaw, Katterbach (75' Netz); Krauss (75' Bauer), Keitel (75' Martel), Huseinbasic (75' Stiller); Samardzic (75' Malone), Thielmann (60' Weisshaupt), Schade (80' Khadra). Subs: Mantl, Fruchtl. Coach: Di Salvo
OFFICIALS: Milanovic (Serbia). (Sutulovic-Bogicevic, IV Baroni)
OTHER: Attendance 5,200. Red cards: Cittadini (I) 85'; Bellanova (I) 86'. Yellows: Carnesecchi (I), Cittadini (I), Bauer (G)