Nothing is lost. Of course, the blows from yesterday’s 5-1 defeat to Portugal in the second match of the U19 European Championship must be taken, but Italy remain in second place in the Group A standings. Indirectly helped by Poland’s 2-0 victory over the hosts, Malta, the Azzurrini are now the architects of their own destiny with two out of three results enough to go through. On Sunday, in Ta’Qali (kick-off at 18:00 CEST and live on RaiSport), Italy must not lose to Poland, who they beat in the Main Round Qualifying stages on 27 September in Gdynia thanks to Samuele Vignato’s penalty, a goal that meant Italy finished third, thus making the Elite Round.

Lipani will obviously miss the game, suspended following his red card against Portugal. Regonesi, Koleosho, Ndour and D’Andrea are all also on bookings, but now is not the time to be making calculations and Alberto Bollini is the first to know that: "You don’t go onto the pitch aiming for a draw," explained the coach. “If the opponents get on top, we will have to employ a defensive structure, but we have always been a proactive team and we will have to be again. Although Poland is a strong and organised team, especially from the midfield onwards, we desperately want to progress."

To do so, it will be vital to learn from mistakes made against Portugal. “Every camp and every match brings experience,” continued Bollini. “We all deserve to be here among the top eight in Europe, but now certain types of behaviour count more. The team has matured, overcome some significant difficulties, getting through two difficult rounds, but we shouldn't have collapsed like we did in those final minutes. It was a defeat that created an image we don’t associate with that of Italy: I was saddened by those final minutes, but we are used to facing up to difficulties. In a period made even more complicated by the fact that we can’t play with continuity, we need to regroup and find the physical and mental energy, as well as a bit of calmness, that brought us to this point."

THE SITUATION. Italy and Poland have the same number of points after two games (3) and the same goal difference (0). The Azzurrini have, however, scored five goals compared to Poland’s two. A draw would therefore be enough to take Italy to the semifinals.

Schedule and Group A standings

Monday 3 July
Poland 0-2 Portugal
Malta 0 -4 ITALY

Thursday 6 July
Portugal 5-1 ITALY
Malta 0-2 Poland

Stadings: Portugal 6 pts, ITALY and Poland 3, Malta 0

Sunday 9 July
ITALY vs. Poland, 18:00 CEST, National Stadium, Ta'Qali (live on Rai Sport)
Portugal vs. Malta, 18:00 CEST, Gozo Stadium, Xewkija

Squad List

Goalkeepers: Davide Mastrantonio (Triestina), Lorenzo Palmisani (Frosinone);
Defenders: Andrea Bozzolan (Milan), Fabio Christian Chiarodia (Borussia M.), Alessandro Dellavalle (Torino), Lorenzo Dellavalle (Juventus), Michael Olabode Kayode (Fiorentina), Filippo Missori (Sassuolo), Iacopo Regonesi (Atalanta);
Midfielders: Lorenzo Amatucci (Fiorentina), Giacomo Faticanti (Roma), Luca Lipani (Genoa), Cher Ndour (Benfica), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma);
Forwards: Luca D'Andrea (Sassuolo), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Luis Hasa (Juventus), Luca Warrick Daeovie Koleosho (Espanyol), Nicolò Turco (Juventus), Samuele Vignato (Monza)

Staff - Coach: Alberto Bollini; National Youth Coordinator: Maurizio Viscidi; Head of Delegation: Evaristo Beccalossi; Assistant Coach: Enrico Battisti; Goalkeeping Coach: Davide Quironi; Fitness Coach: Marco Montini; Match Analyst: Francesco Donzella; Doctors: Paolo Manetti and Andrea Redler; Nutritionist: Micol Purrotti; Physiotherapists: Giuliano Gepponi and Angelo Cartocci; Press Officer: Giuseppe Ingrati; Administration Office: Andrea Ottaviani; Secretary: Luca Gatto