The Under-21 National Team’s European Championship qualifying campaign is set to resume. Following a big win in their opener against Luxembourg (5-0), their goalless draw against Ireland and their narrow victory away to Armenia (0-1), the Azzurrini will return to action tomorrow at the Stadio Paolo Mazza in Ferrara to face Iceland, who currently sit two points ahead of Nicolato’s men in second place in the group. However, Italy have a game in hand.

Leading the group are Ireland, who consolidated their position at the top yesterday with a 1-0 win away to Armenia. The Irish now sit on 13 points, six ahead of Italy but also having played three more matches. In order to keep up the pace, the Under-21s can’t afford to get it wrong from now until October 2020, when their qualifying campaign will come to an end against Ireland: “We’re making steps forward, both in terms of getting to know each other and our work,” said Paolo Nicolato when interviewed by Sky Sport prior to the team’s final training session before the game. “This week has been important because we’ve been able to work in greater detail.”

The squad has lost a number of players over the last few days, with Sandro Tonali earning a ‘promotion’ to the senior side following injuries to Alessandro Bastoni, Luca Pellegrini and Davide Frattesi. “It’s true, there are absentees,” the Head Coach continued. “However, we have great confidence in the players who have trained during this period. For them, it’s a great opportunity. We’ll make three or four changes in defence and we’re also missing some big players in midfield, like Tonali and Zaniolo, who are now doing well for the senior team. However, I’m convinced that these difficulties need to be turned into opportunities because it’s moments like these when the lads need to have the belief that they’re not inferior to anyone.”

Nicolato confirmed that he will stick with the same formation (“the 4-3-3 will remain because during this initial phase we need to search for an identity, we’re still yet to find this completely. We need to work and persevere because it takes time to do something well”) and hopes that there won’t be too much rain in Ferrara the next few hours: “I would prefer to play on a pitch in good condition. Unlike Iceland, we’re not a physical side but have good technical qualities. And I hope it’s a game where the technical side of things comes to the fore.”

Squad

Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Trapani), Mattia Del Favero (Piacenza), Alessandro Plizzari (Livorno);
Defenders: Claud Adjapong (Hellas Verona), **Nicolò Casale (Venezia), Davide Bettella (Pescara), Enrico Delprato (Livorno), Matteo Gabbia (Milan), Luca Ranieri (Fiorentina), Marco Sala (Virtus Entella), Alessandro Tripaldelli (Sassuolo);
Midfielders: Marco Carraro (Perugia), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Giulio Maggiore (Spezia), Fabio Maistro (Salernitana), *Salvatore Esposito (Chievo Verona), Niccolò Zanellato (Crotone);
Forwards: Patrick Cutrone (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Moise Bioty Kean (Everton), Andrea Pinamonti (Genoa), Gianluca Scamacca (Ascoli), Riccardo Sottil (Fiorentina).

*replaces Sandro Tonali (Brescia)

**replaces Alessandro Bastoni (Inter)

Staff – Delegation head: Massimo Paganin; Coach: Paolo Nicolato; Accompanying director: Vincenzo Marinelli; Secretary Manfredi Martino; Assistant Coach: Mirco Gasparetto; Fitness Coach: Vincenzo Pincolini; Goalkeeping Coach: Gian Matteo Mareggini; Match analyst: Francesco Bordin; Doctors: Angelo De Carli and Vincenzo Santoriello; Physiotherapists: Emiliano Bozzetti and Nicola Sanna; Hosteopath: Cristiano Pompili; Physician: Cristian Osgnach.

Schedule

Friday 15 November

15:30 - Paolo Nicolato’s press conference at the stadium in Ferrara

16:30 - Training at the stadium in Ferrara (first 15 minutes open to the media)

 Saturday 16 November

10:00 - Training (closed)

11:00 - Exclusive RAI TV interview with Paolo Nicolato

18:30 ITALY vs. Iceland followed by the post-match press conference and dinner at the hotel.

 Sunday 17 November

10:00 - Training (closed)

16:00 - V7 1264 flight Venice-Catania

17.55 - Arrival in Catania and transfer to the Una Hotel Palace di Catania (Via Etnea 218 - 95131 Catania)

Monday 18 November

15:30 (tbc) - Paolo Nicolato’s press conference at the Stadio Angelo Massimino

16:30 (tbc) - Official training at the Stadio Angelo Massimino (First 15 minutes open to the media)

Tuesday 19 November

10:00 - Training (closed)

11:00 - Exclusive RAI TV with Paolo Nicolato

18:30 –ITALY vs. Armenia,  followed by the post-match press conference and dinner at the hotel.

Wednesday 20 November

Return to club sides.