The National Youth Teams’ season has begun with a victory. The U19s, who were crowned European Champions with a contingent of 2004-born players less than a month ago in Malta, kicked off a new year with a 3-0 victory over Albania at the Federal Technical Centre in Coverciano. All the goals arrived in the first half, with Marco Delle Monache (Sampdoria) bagging a brace and Diego Ripani (Juventus) netting the other. Bernardo Corradi, who was in the U19 dugout for the first time after leading the U17s last term, was encouraged by what he saw: “I enjoyed watching the lads play,” he said. “There were some good signs, despite the fact we’re only at the start of the year and preparations are very much in progress. These are lads who have been used to playing in a certain system, but we tried a different one today. We were fairly fluid in our play, there were ideas on display, and we could have scored more than three goals. We’re moving towards the first phase of Euro qualifying (in Sweden in November, Ed.) with optimism.”

Corradi started the match with Ripani in the middle of the park with Quieto and Delle Monache either side of Bolzan up front. And it was the two attacking widemen who combined for the opener after just two minutes: Ciammaglichella picked out the run of Quieto, whose cross from the right was converted by the Sampdoria man. In the twelfth minute, Turco tested Kiri with a right-footed effort from distance. The Albanian goalkeeper also did well to deny Ciammaglichella (17') and then Bolzan (22'). However, he couldn’t do anything about Ripani’s long-range strike to make it 2-0. Kiri thwarted Ciammaglichella as the Azzurrini continued to attack, but the shot-stopper was beaten again before half-time: Saiani played in a perfect cross from the left that was headed home by Delle Monache. 

Corradi sent out a completely different team for the second half, with Presta having the first chance after the restart. However, the Fiorentina striker’s header was off target. A few seconds later, Longoni didn’t make the right connection with the ball from a good position. In the 71st minute, Ragnoli Galli (one of the three 2006-born players fielded by Corradi) saw his penalty saved by Kiri, but it didn’t matter: the Azzurrini ran out comfortable winners.

ITALY 3-0 ALBANIA
GOALSCORERS: 2' and 44' Delle Monache, 24' Ripani

ITALY (first half): Magro (30' Borriello); Turco, Domanico, D'Avino, Saiani; Ciammaglichella, Ripani, Di Maggio; Quieto, Bolzan, Delle Monache. 
ITALY (second half): Borriello (15' Di Bartolo); Magni, Corradi, Bassino, Milani; Parravicini, Bovo, Graziani; Longoni, Ragnoli Galli, Presta. Head Coach: Corradi

ALBANIA: Kiri (80’ Totoshi); Muca (73’ Zaganjori), Kacurri (46’ Meta), Ar. Kurti, Ad. Kurti, Damini (60’ Perndreca); Vranici (46’ Duro), Tresa, Kasmollari (80’ Dodaj); Sulejmani (80’ Demircani), Krasniqi (73’ Belloj). Head Coach: Bulku

REFEREE: Delrio (Italy)
ASSISTANTS: Zoppi-Lisi
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Bianchi