The Under 20 National Team will be back in action tomorrow, September 6, at Stadio Teofilo Patini in Castel di Sangro for a friendly match against their peers from Serbia. Fresh from a 2-0 win against Poland in the opening match of the Elite League three days ago in Lomza, Alberto Bollini's boys return to the field for a new and challenging match with the aim of increasing team chemistry and gameplay in a group that will be predominantly engaged in the Elite League.

The squad remains the same as in the match against Poland, except for Eddie Salcedo (Inter) who was called up by Paolo Nicolato to the Under 21 squad for their two Euro qualifying matches against Luxembourg and Montenegro. Alberto Bollini didn’t hide his satisfaction with the result achieved in Poland: "It was a brilliant match, played with tactical awareness and just the right panache. We were also able to prepare for it well thanks to the warm welcome and the facilities that were absolutely up to standard”. On tomorrow's game, the Azzurrini coach has no doubts: “It will be a challenging test: We’ll have a solid and well-structured team in front of us. The boys’ morale is high and they’ll be able to find the same motivation as three days ago, the desire to play to honour the blue jersey”.

The mayor of Castel di Sangro Angelo Caruso also showed great enthusiasm as he sees his city increasingly tinged with Azzurro: In fact, tomorrow's match is the first of a double Azzurri commitment that will also see the Abruzzo city host the women's national team in their World Cup qualifying match against Croatia on Friday 22 October: “Our city has been hosting national and international events for some years, combining great organisation with the well-tested reception of tourists and sports enthusiasts. We will greet the Under 20 national team with joy for their luxurious friendly tomorrow against Serbia. I extend an invitation to all my fellow citizens to attend the match to cheer on Italy, in compliance with the rules in place to prevent the spread of the pandemic, and to enjoy a high-level international youth football match”.

Squad List

Goalkeepers: Ludovico Gelmi (Feralpisalò), Semuel Pizzignacco (Vicenza), Stefano Turati (Reggina);
Defenders: Tommaso Barbieri (Juventus), Davide Angelo Ghislandi (Turris), Nicolò Armini (Piacenza), Laurens Serpe (Genoa), Christian Dalle Mura (Cremonese), Mattia Viti (Empoli), Matteo Ruggeri (Salernitana), Giorgio Brogni (Feralpisalò);
Midfielders: Edoardo Bove (Roma), Manu Emmanuel Gyabuaa (Perugia), Nikola Sekulov (Juventus), Alessandro Bianco (Fiorentina), Emanuele Zuelli (Juventus), Giuseppe Leone (Juventus), Alessandro Cortinovis (Atalanta), Franco Daryl Tongya Heubang (Olimpique Marsiglia), Alessio Riccardi (Roma), Daniel Maldini (AC Milan);
Forwards: Gianmarco Cangiano (Bologna), Gaetano Pio Oristanio (Volendam), Nicolò Cudrig (Juventus), Giuseppe Di Serio (Benevento).

Staff: Head of Delegation: Evaristo Beccalossi; Head Coach: Alberto Bollini; Secretary: Giulio Massi; Assistant Coach: Enrico Battisti; Athletic Coach: Marco Montini; Goalkeeping Coach: Graziano Vinti; Match Analyst: Francesco Donzella; Nutritionist: Cristian Petri; Medic: Matteo Vitali, Andrea Serdoz, Edoardo Gaj; Physiotherapists: Tommaso Cannata and Andrea Cantera.