Prato is ready to welcome the Under-19 National Team. After the U20s’ Elite League fixture against Germany in March, another Azzurrini side is set to play at the Stadio Lungobisenzio, which will host two friendlies against Northern Ireland and the Netherlands. The match against the Dutch will be broadcast live on figc.it. A press conference was held at the Palazzo Comunale in Prato today to present the two fixtures, which will take place tomorrow and on Monday 11 September (both 16:30 CEST kick-offs).  

“Prato is enjoying some important and celebratory days, which is also why we’re delighted that an Italy team is here again,” said Mayor Matteo Biffoni. “After the U20s in March, the Stadio Lungobisenzio will now host the U19s, the current European champions, which is a real source of pride for our city. I’d like to thank the Federation for choosing Prato, as well as the city administration and everyone who has made themselves available to organise these two games.” “Our city welcomed the U20s in the best way possible in March and has also responded in the same way to the U19s in the past few days,” said the Councillor for Sports, Simone Faggi. “We hope that this collaboration with the Federation can go on for a long time.” Massimo Taiti, a CONI provincial delegate and vice president of the LND Tuscan Regional Committee, concluded by saying the following: “Hosting a National Team here in Prato again provides an opportunity for the local football movement to grow.”

The Azzurrini’s games against Northern Ireland and the Netherlands will be the second and third time they’ve taken to the pitch this season following their 3-0 victory over Albania at Coverciano in August. The first stage of Euro qualifying, which, for Italy, will take place in Sweden in November, is the first objective: “First of all, I’d like to thank Prato and everyone who has done their utmost to allow us to work in the best possible conditions,” said Head Coach Bernardo Corradi. “I was fortunate enough to wear the Italy shirt as a player and I understand the excitement that these lads feel when they see how much enthusiasm there is for the Azzurri shirt.  We’ve just started a new journey with the U19s, and being the reigning Champions of Europe is a big responsibility because we need to live up to the group that came before us and achieved this feat. We’re aware of the work we’ve done and what all the National Youth Teams have achieved recently, with the U17s, U19s, U20s and U21s all reaching their respective final tournaments. Above all, there’s the desire to continue on this path through the work of the lads, every staff member and all the scouts who monitor our youngsters from U15 level.”

Luca Lipani, who was involved in both the U20 World Cup in Argentina and the U19 Euros, will the team captain: “I’ve been able to enjoy some indescribable emotions,” said the Sassuolo midfielder. “The Under-19 National Team hadn’t won the European Championship for 20 years, and I experienced feelings that will remain with me for the rest of my life. Despite our defeat in the final, our run in the U20 World Cup was very exciting. We weren’t considered as one of the favourites to reach the final, but we managed to do so and came so close to winning the trophy. The dream is obviously to try and repeat what we did.”

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Alessandro Calligaris (Inter), Federico Magro (Lazio), Renato Marin (Roma)
Defenders: Davide Bartesaghi (Milan), Fabio Chiarodia (Borussia Monchengladbach), Saer Diop (Bologna), Saverio Domanico (Juventus), Vittorio Magni (Milan), Filippo Calixte Mane (Borussia Dortmund), Alessandro Milani (Lazio), Stefano Turco (Juventus)
Midfielders: Aaron Ciammaglichella (Torino), Luca Di Maggio (Inter), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Marco Longoni (Torino), Vincenzo Onofrietti Teixeira (Borussia Dortmund), Fabio Parravicini (Spal), Daniele Quieto (Inter), Diego Ripani (Juventus);
Forwards: Alessandro Bolzan (Roma), Marco Delle Monache (Sampdoria), Niccolò Franzoni (Torino), Matteo Spinaccé (Inter)

Staff - Head Coach: Bernardo Corradi; Assistant Coach: Mirco Gasparetto; Fitness Coach: Marco Montini; Goalkeeping Coach: Graziano Vinti; Match Analyst: Francesco Donzella; Doctors: Cristiano Benelli, Sebastiano Porcino, Andrea Redler, Paolo Manetti; Physiotherapists: Giuliano Gepponi, Tommaso Cannata; Secretary: Aldo Blessich