After the 1-0 victory over Japan two days ago in Limeil-Brévannes, the Italy Under-16 team drew 2-2 with Switzerland, before winning 5-4 on penalties, on the second day of the 25th edition of the Val-de-Marne International Tournament, staged at the Parc des Sports des Maisons Rouges in Bry-sur-Marne. The Azzurrini took the lead in the 23rd minute with Jacopo Landi (Empoli), before doubling it in the 40th minute with Delis Gjeci (Inter). In the second half, Marco Scarpa's team suffered a comeback from the Swiss players, which saw Bright Boahen Ocran (Young Boys) and Niko Cavka (Winterthur) scoring 61 and 66 minutes in respectively. Before the penalty shoot-out, in which Tommaso Mazzi (Fiorentina) proved decisive when neutralising Ifeanyichukwu Onwuzulike's (Winterthur) penalty, Italy had also hit the post in the 80th minute with Samuele Pisati (Milan).

"We played a good game for sixty minutes," said the Azzurrini's coach, "before conceding a goal in an incredible way, which allowed our opponents to regain confidence and equalise. In the final moments of the match, we came close to making it 3-2, but Pisati's shot ended up hitting the post. Then, in the penalty shoot-out, our goalkeeper, Mazzi, did well, saving the last penalty and allowing us to win. We are a ‘work in progress’, but I am positive and confident because the team played a good game."

The Azzurrini will play on the third and final day of the tournament on Saturday, November 2 (16:00 CET) at the Léo Lagrange Sports Centre in Bonneuil-sur-Marne, against the hosts France. Scarpa: "I will make a careful evaluation of the physical-athletic conditions of the boys, because there is more than one player who left today a little bit injured."