Ten months on from their 6-0 win against Armenia on 19 November in Catania, the Under-21 National Team returned to European qualifying action this evening. However, it wasn’t the same Italy side that had scored 15 without reply in their first five matches, nor was it the same Italy side that had picked up four wins and a draw, through which they sat in a commanding position just three points behind an Ireland team who had played two more matches. Rather, it was an Italy side that looked a completely different outfit to the one that had achieved so many plaudits prior to tonight. This evening, the Azzurrini lost 3-0 after conceding twice in the first half and once after the break.

Almqvist (twice) and Henriksson scored the goals for the hosts, with Italy, who had initially started the match brightly, failing to respond. Out of sorts in defence and ineffective in attack (a couple of efforts from Cutrone were the only chances the Azzurrini could muster), Italy were unable to bridge the large physical gap between the sides. Thanks to today’s result, the Swedes will feel that they’re now back in the running to qualify.

THE MATCH – Nicolato had to make do without Bastoni, Locatelli and Kean due to their call-ups to the senior side, while the Head Coach was also left without Frattesi due to a muscle complaint in his right foot. For the match against the Swedes, he sent out a much-changed line-up compared to the one he selected for Italy’s friendly against Slovenia in Lignano Sabbiadoro on Friday. Carnesecchi was chosen between the sticks, while Adjapong, Del Prato, Gabbia and Pellegrini formed the Azzurrini’s defence. Italy’s midfield trio consisted of Maleh, Carraro and Zanellato, while the team’s attack was made up of Sottil, Pinamonti and Cutrone.

Against a team like Sweden, who are happy to play with men behind the ball, it’s not easy to take control of the match. Nicolato was aware of this and had warned his side before the showdown, but he probably wasn’t expecting the Azzurrini to fall behind after twelve minutes: the careless nature of Italy’s defending allowed Irandust to pick out an unmarked Almqvist, who was left with an easy tap-in at the back post.

With the wind now in their sails, Sweden pushed forward and forced Carnesecchi into action two minutes later. Italy were struggling. The home side, who had come into the game on the back of a narrow 1-0 defeat to Iceland in Reykjavik on Friday, were successfully breaking up the Azzurrini’s moves and looking to hit their opponents on the break. And this is how they scored their second, with Almqvist finding the net in the 29th minute to bag the first brace of his career.

It was a difficult situation. The Azzurrini’s technical superiority was evident, as was the lack of games in the Italian players’ legs, only exacerbated by the fact that 18 matchdays have come and gone in the Swedish league this year. In the 38th minute, Sottil whipped in a cross for Cutrone, who was unable to convert. Discouraged by being two goals down, Italy were struggling to move the ball quickly. They were lacking that bit of luck too: Cutrone’s overhead kick in the 40th minute hit the bar and went out of play. Nevertheless, it was the Azzurrini defence which was being put under the most pressure, with Isterwood missing from close range after 43 minutes.

During the break, Nicolato brought on Scamacca and Varnier for Maleh and Sottil with the aim of adding incision to Italy’s attacking play. It didn’t work. Sweden struck another blow in the 51st minute through Henriksson, who scored with his right foot after the Azzurrini had failed to clear a corner.

Nicolato couldn’t believe what he was seeing, and his mood wasn’t improved when Cutrone was denied by Dahlberg with 65 minutes on the clock. The Head Coach then made another two substitutions, replacing Pellegrini and Adjapong with Sala and Casale. In the 74th minute, Pinamonti had a good opportunity, but his effort was too weak to concern Dahlberg.

Despite the disappointing evening, the Head Coach is remaining calm: “I think that the boys did well, I had the clear impression that they couldn’t do more. The physical gap was just too much. We’ve now got two matches coming up in October, we knew that progressing from this group would be complicated, not helped by the long absence from the pitch.”