The National Under-18s' season got off the best possible start today with a convincing 3-0 win over Serbia at the Olympic Preparation Centre (CPO) in Tirrenia (PI) thanks to goals from Edorado Sadotti (Fiorentina), Federico Ragnoli Galli (Atalanta) and Filippo Scotti (AC Milan).

"It was important to start off on the right foot," underlined a satisfied Azzurrini coach Daniele Franceschini. "This is the first game of a journey that, this season, the lads will take with them in preparation for the Under-19 Euros next year. In Club Italia, as results are highlighting, there is a common goal for everyone. As well as the result, the lads showed an excellent mentality, approaching the fixture in the best possible way."

THE MATCH. After taking the lead inside three minutes thanks to Sadotti's header, from a Mattia Mannini cross, the  Azzurrini then had a goal disallowed a few minutes later - put home by Seydou Fini (Genoa). On 59', Marco Romano (Genoa) won a penalty and Ragnoli Galli did the rest to make it 2-0. Wrapping up the win for Franceschini's lads was Filippo Scotti (AC Milan) who, on 85', turned home Filippo Reale's cross from the right, on the Roma player's debut.

Italy are next back in action on Sunday 10 September, again in Tirrenia (16:30 CEST), where they will come up against the Netherlands in another friendly (live on figc.it).