The Italy Under 19’s team are fast approaching the first round of U19 Euro qualifiers scheduled for Wednesday 15 to Tuesday 21 November. Group 4 will see them face Lichtenstein, Switzerland, and the hosts, Sweden. Bernado Corradi’s Azzurrini, after winning their friendly against Northern Ireland (3-2) and losing to the Netherlands (2-0) in September, lost 5-4 to Serbia in the friendly at the Metalac Stadion in Gornji Milanovac. After going ahead in the 33rd minute with Giulio Misitano, Italy conceded two goals. The first was scored in the 44th minute by Marko Mladenović from Eintracht Frankfurt, who also got another in the 57th minute to bag a brace, and then Jovan Mijatović from Crvena Zvezda got their second in the 46th minute. Marco Delle Monache converted the penalty in the 71st minute and the goals from Lorenzo Anghelè (76') and Luca Lipani (80') took Italy back into the lead. In the final minutes of the match, goals from Aleksej Vukičevi (86’) and Mijatović (90') sealed the defeat for the Azzurrini in the first of their two friendlies against the Serbs

Bernardo Corradi underlined: “It was an intense game where we dominated play but didn’t manage to win because the opposition made the most of various opportunities. Despite the final result, today’s first half was probably one of the best halves of football that I’ve seen my squad play for Italy: this game will really help us grow”.

Italy will play the Serbian side again on Saturday 14 October at 16:00 CEST in the Serbian Federal Centre (Sportski centar FSS) in Stara Pazova. The Azzurrini coach said: “Of course, I will make some changes. These games are played to help evaluate the lads ahead of the Euro qualifiers”.

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Alessandro Calligaris (Inter), Federico Magro (Lazio);
Defenders: Wisdom Amey (Bologna), Adam Bakoune (Milan), Davide Bartesaghi (Milan), Fabio Cristian Chiarodia (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Christian Corradi (Hellas Verona), Filippo Calixte Mane (Borussia Dortmund), Marco Palestra (Atalanta), Filippo Saiani (Spal);
Midfielders: Thomas Berenbruch (Inter), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Mattia Mannini (Roma), Lorenzo Menegazzo (Bologna)*, Fabio Parravicini (Spal), Diego Ripani (Juventus);
Forwards: Lorenzo Anghelè (Juventus), Alphadjo Cisse (Hellas Verona), Marco Delle Monache (Sampdoria), Giulio Misitano (Roma), Simone Pafundi (Udinese), Kevin Zeroli (Milan).

*in place of the unavailable Luca Di Maggio (Inter).

Staff – Head Coach: Bernardo Corradi; Assistant Coach: Mirco Gasparetto; National Youth Setup Coordinator: Maurizio Viscidi; Fitness Coach: Marco Montini; Goalkeeping Coach: Graziano Vinti; Match Analyst: Francesco Donzella; Doctors: Paolo Manetti and Sebastiano Porcino; Nutritionist: Micol Purrotti; Physiotherapists: Giuliano Gepponi and Giorgio Giannini; Secretary: Aldo Blessich.