The Under-18 National team are set to return to L'Aquila ten months on from their friendly double-header against France last November, which saw the Azzurrini, after a 3-0 loss in the first match, bounce back and win the second game 2-1. This time, Serbia will be the opponents to beat in the two matches scheduled at the Stadio Gran Sasso d’Italia on Wednesday 21 and Saturday 24 September. Italy are unbeaten in their last six matches against the Serbs (three wins and three draws).

22 players, all born in 2005, have been called up by Daniele Franceschini. They'll get together on the evening of 18 September at the Giulio Onesti Olympic Training Centre in Rome before travelling to L'Aquila on Tuesday 20 September.

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Federico Magro (Lazio), Francesco Borriello (Parma), Alessandro Calligaris (Inter);
Defenders: Nicolò Serra (Torino), Marco Palestra (Atalanta), Filippo Calixte Mané (Borussia Dortmund), Saer Diop (Bologna), Saverio Domanico (Juventus), Luigi D’Avino (Napoli), Alessandro Milani (Lazio);
Midfielders: Fabio Parravicini (Spal), Antonio Troise (Lazio), Diego Ripani (Juventus), Vincenzo Onofrietti (Borussia Dortmund), Lorenzo Graziani (Roma), Kevin Bruno (Sassuolo), Daniele Quieto (Inter);
Forwards: Alessandro Bolzan (Roma), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Enoch Owusu (Inter), Marco Delle Monache (Pescara), Francesco Presta (Fiorentina).

Staff – Head Coach: Daniele Franceschini; Assistant Coach: Matteo Barella; Fitness Coach: Nicolò Varesco; Goalkeeper Coach: Pasquale Pastore; Match analyst: Andrea Zappavigna; Doctors: Alessandro Carducci and Sofia Calaciura Clarich; Physiotherapist: Andrea Cantera.