The stage is set for the Under-20 national team’s first match of 2022. Italy will resume their Elite League campaign tomorrow at 17:00 CET (live on Rai Sport). Ascoli’s Stadio Del Duca will host our meeting with Germany, who are currently sitting in top spot, just one point ahead of Alberto Bollini’s team.

There is expected to be a 3 thousand-strong crowd in the stands, who will do their best to push the Azzurrini towards a victory that would see them overtake their opponents and claim top spot. The schools and sports clubs in the area have received invitations from both the local government and the Youth and Scholarly Sector of the FIGC and so there will be a young crowd, ready to create a blue wave and get behind the likes of Longo, Calafiori and co for the full ninety minutes.

Bollini’s side have had to surrender Maldini and Panada ahead of tomorrow’s match, and also for the last game of the tournament this coming Monday, 28 March against Norway. The coach will also have to manage the absence of Salernitana defender, Matteo Ruggeri, who has already returned to his club and has been replaced with Fabio Ponsi.

Aside from being slightly weakened, the group’s morale is high and the Azzurrini are eager to take to the field. “Playing these kinds of games instils a lot of pride for everyone involved”, said the coach at the end of the training session, “in front of us, we will play a very strong squad, that is yet to lose, and conceded just twice. To put the difficulty into context, we must capitalise on our individual talents and any space they present us with. We must pay great attention to the phases out of possession. I ask the boys for application and inspiration. I want us to be quick in our transitional play, dribbling and show our clinical edge in front of goal.

As for stadium access, it is possible to download tickets for free up until kick-off, by going to the FIGC website or the Vivaticket website. Spectators must wear an FFP2 face mask and a ‘reinforced’ Green Pass to be admitted to the stadium. This however is not necessary for those under 12 years of age.

 

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Denis Franchi (Paris Saint-Germain), Alessandro Russo (VV Sint-Truiden), Alessandro Sorrentino (Pescara);

Defenders: Tommaso Barbieri (Juventus), Riccardo Calafiori (Genoa), Andrea Carboni (Cagliari), Alessandro Circati (Parma), Christian Dalle Mura (Pordenone), Davide Angelo Ghislandi (Turris), Andrea Papetti (Brescia), Fabio Ponsi (Modena), Alessandro Pio Riccio (Juventus);

Midfielders: Alessandro Bianco (Fiorentina), Jean Freddi Pascal Greco (Catania), Giuseppe Leone (Juventus), Tommaso Pantaleo Milanese (Alessandria), Nikola Sekulov (Juventus), Cristian Volpato (Roma), Emanuele Zuelli (Juventus);

Forwards: Gianmarco Cangiano (Crotone), Riccardo Ciervo (Sassuolo), Sebastiano Esposito (Basilea), Luca Moro (Catania), Gaetano Pio Oristanio (Volendam), Edoardo Vergani (Salernitana).

Risultati e prossime partite: / Results and fixtures:

2 September 2021: Poland 0-2 ITALY, Romania 2-1 Portugal, Czech Republic 0-2 Germany;

6-7 September 2021: Germany 1-1 Norway, England 6-1 Romania, Portugal 0-0 Poland;

7 October 2021: England 1-1 ITALY, Portugal 1-2 Norway, Romania 2-1 Czech Republic, Poland 0-0 Germany;

11-12 October 2021: Czech Republic 0-5 England; Germany 4-0 Romania; Norway 1-5 Poland, ITALY 1-1 Portugal;

11 November 2021: Portugal 2-0 England, Romania 2-1 Poland, ITALY 1-2 Czech Republic;

15 November 2021: ITALY 7-0 Romania, Czech Republic 1-1 Norway, Portugal 1-1 Germany;

24 March 2022: Portugal v Czech Republic, Poland v England, Romania v Norway, ITALY v Germany;

28 March 2022: Czech Republic v Poland, Norway v ITALY, England v Germany;

Data to be confirmed: England v Norway.

 

Standings: Germany 9 points (5 games played), Romania 9 points (6), ITALY 8 points (5), England 7 points (4), Portugal 6 points (6), Norway 5 points (4), Poland 5 points (5), Czech Republic 4 points (5).