Venice and Citadella will host the two friendlies in March for the Italy U21s. On Friday 21, Carmine Nunziata’s side will face the Netherlands at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo and on Monday 24, they will play Denmark at the Pier Cesare Tombolato in the last two tests ahead of the Euros tournament scheduled for June in Slovakia. Italy were drawn with Romania, Slovakia and Spain for the tournament whilst the Azzurrini’s friendly opposition are also among the 16 sides qualified for the Euros, being drawn in Group D with Finland and Ukraine.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS. Italy and the Netherlands have played each other 8 times at an Under-21 level. The Azzurrini count five wins (the last coming at Euro 2013 in Israel, a 1-0 win in the semi-final thanks to goals from Borini), one draw and two Oranje wins. There have been 15 previous fixtures between Denmark and the Italy U21s: we count 8 wins, five draws and two defeats. The last game dates back to Euro 2017 in Krakow when Italy won 2-0 thanks to goals from Pellegrini and Petagna.

VENICE AND CITADELLA. The U21s will play in Venice for the second time, almost nine years after the friendly with France lost 1-0 in June 2016: a game organised in memory of Valeria Solesin, victim of the terrorist attack at the Bataclan in Paris. This will be the third fixture in Citadella following the game against Russia in 2013 (2-0, goals from Immobile and Insigne) and against Slovenia in 2017 (4-1, goals from Cutrone, Favilli, Chiesa and Orsolini).