A point will be enough for the Azzurrini to finish top of the group and book their plane tickets for the Euros in 2023. The final, and most important, 90 minutes of the campaign will see the Under-21 team take on the Republic of Ireland tomorrow afternoon at the Stadio Del Duca in Ascoli Piceno. It will be 50 years since they last played there when, under Head Coach Azeglio Vicni, they beat Yugoslavia 2-1 in a friendly on 23 February 1972.

The trio of games in June finishes with the most difficult of them all, but, after the victory over Luxembourg and a draw with Sweden, Italy cannot afford to fail at the second attempt in their quest to reach Romania and Georgia. Italy are certain finish at least second in the group, but that wouldn't be enough for Head Coach Nicolato: “Let’s not make any calculations. We don’t want to arrive towards the end of the game with the result still in the balance. We expect a tough game and we’re only looking to win, even if a point would be enough. We believe we haven’t got the points our performances and play have merited so far, so it’s now the time to bring them together.” The Group F standings show Italy in command with 21 points, two more than the Republic of Ireland and three in front of Sweden, but psychologically it’s an advantage that may reveal itself as a double-edge sword. Nicolato continued: “I repeat that we feel we deserve what we have and should have even more to show for it, despite the many difficulties and absentees over the campaign. We feel we are and have been the best team and that we shouldn’t even be at this point. So tomorrow, let’s get stuck into our opponents and take what we deserve.”

But the Head Coach knows that the next 90 minutes hold many dangers and threats: “Ireland are very strong at set plays and they counter-attack quickly. We need to be fully aware of them, not commit errors and keep our heads emotionally.”

Regarding the starting eleven, Nicolato has suggested there won’t be many, if any, changes to the team that drew with Sweden last time out: “The players did well, so I don’t foresee any big changes to the team or tactics. From what I have seen in training from the players, I’m sure they will impose their game.” The two teams meet up again only seven months after the Azzurrini’s 2-0 win in Dublin thanks to goals from Lorenzo Lucca and Matteo Cancellieri. These seven months have seen things change a lot, on both sides: “We don’t have a clear idea on how Ireland will play,” Nicolato continued. “They’ve changed quite a bit since November. Against Sweden, they played with three at the back and the last one with a back four, so our preparations must focus on us giving the lads some solutions and ideas for various situations they may encounter during the game. But ultimately, we need to have our own clear ideas.”

Unfortunately missing will be the injured Matteo Lovato, who has now left the squad, but returning from getting his first senior cap with the men’s first team is Samuele Ricci, who will lead the team out as captain.