The second match of the European Championships already represents a crucial juncture for the National Under 21 team, who, after the defeat in the opening match against France, will face Switzerland tomorrow (18 CEST, live on Rai 2 - referee: Mohammed Al-Hakim from Sweden) knowing that they cannot afford another false step. If a defeat would effectively sanction elimination, even a draw would seriously jeopardise access to the quarter-finals and, consequently, to the three places for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Before the final training session Paolo Nicolato spoke again from the press room of a Cluj Arena that will have many empty seats tomorrow, as only 5,000 spectators are expected.

"A complex match awaits us against a strong opponent," warned the coach, "but we are calm because we have done a great job. We have enough experience to understand that sometimes it's not enough, but we also have the awareness that we won't have any regrets because we the staff, the players, and all the management are really giving our best. We care a lot and we hope that things will go smoothly.

Compared to the match against France there will be some changes, not only in the starting eleven but also in terms of the match plan: "We will definitely make some changes, not because we are dissatisfied with those who played, on the contrary, but because the matches are close and we have a large squad, with guys who all deserve to play. We will be facing a different opponent and so we will be different too. Games must be approached on the basis of our players and those of the others, so we will change strategy.

Having won 2-1 in a comeback in the first match against Norway, Switzerland is a young but mature team, with six to seven players who have already tasted the call-up to the senior national team. Having qualified for the European Championships as the best second in Group E behind the Netherlands, in the 14 matches against Italy at Under-21 level they have only won one, the friendly played 20 years ago in Neuchatel. For the rest, six wins for Italy and seven draws, a very favourable balance but one that does not detract from the pitfalls of an inside or outside challenge: "They are a complete and dangerous team," Nicolato emphasises, "that has scored a lot of points in the qualifiers and has also shown in the friendlies that they can play with anyone. At this level you cannot expect to find people who do not know how to play.

Sitting next to the coach in the press room is the youngest member of the Azzurri group, Giorgio Scalvini, a 2003 born lad who not only has become a staple of Atalanta but also already boasts four appearances with the senior national team. Two days ago he grazed a header for his first goal with the Under 21, confirming that he can also be very effective in the opponent's area: "With France it was the first match of the European Championship and it was necessary to break the tension, but I saw a team that entered the field with the right attitude and in fact we played a good match. Switzerland is a tough opponent, it certainly won't be an easy match. We have to turn the anger for the defeat against France into positive energy, the attitude will be the most important thing this time too".

The number one danger is Zeki Amdouni, Basel's centre forward, born in 2000, who is burning the candle at the seams: 5 goals in 5 appearances with the major national team, top scorer of the last Conference League with 7 goals together with Fiorentina's forward Arthur Cabral, he was also Switzerland's best scorer in the qualifications (6 goals in 9 matches). "We have also seen him with the Swiss senior national team, maybe he is the one we know best, but he is not the only valuable player in their squad. To bring home the three points we will have to play a great game both defensively and offensively.