The first friendly against France in Clairefontaine finished 1-1 as the season ends for the Under-17 National Team with these two friendlies. Carmine Nunziata returned to lead the side following the World Cup in Brazil and immediately picked up a positive result against a strong French side.

Most of the action came in the first half with the Azzurri on the front foot before an own goal opened the scoring for the Bleus who went up thanks to an unfortunate Filippo Fiumanò backpass before Inter forward Wilfried Gnonto equalised with his first goal since the World Cup where he was Italy’s top scorer on three goals.

Along with him, Samuele Giovane also returned as an experienced player who joined the group last November and how took part in the first qualifying stage in Luxembourg. “There are certain things to improve,” underlined Nunziata after the match. “However, I’ve found a group that is willing to listen and it takes things on immediately. This morning in Nyon, the draw was held for the Elite Round of the European Championship that will take place in March in Poland with the Azzurrini up against the hosts, Wales and Montenegro. “They’re difficult games but certainly winnable for us.”

 

Squad List

Goalkeepers: Tommaso Luci (Fiorentina), Gioele Zacchi (Sassuolo);

Defenders: Ramen Cepele (Inter), **Andrea Ceresoli (Atalanta), Filippo Fiumanò (Juventus), Alessandro Fontanarosa (Inter), Davide Gentile (Benevento), Daniele Ghilardi (Fiorentina), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Riccardo Turicchia (Juventus);

Midfielders: Gabriele Berto (Atalanta), Federico Casolari (Sassuolo), Giovanni Fabbian (Inter), *Jacopo Fazzini (Empoli), Samuel Giovane (Atalanta), Fabio Miretti (Juventus), Andrea Oliveri (Atalanta), Luciano Pisapia (Juventus), Alessio Rossi (Empoli), Federico Zuccon (Atalanta);

Forwards: Andrea Bonetti (Juventus), Wifried Gnonto (Inter), Luca Magazzù (Inter), Alessio Rosa (Atalanta), Matteo Sartori (Padova).

* Unavailable, replaced by Duccio Degli Innocenti (Empoli)

** Unavailable, replaced by Alessandro Cavallini (Sassuolo)