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Emotions, ambitions, and Ligurian pride – Luca Lipani, a 2005-born midfielder for Sassuolo, spoke today from the Olympic Training Centre in Tirrenia, headquarters of coach Silvio Baldini's U21 national team, ahead of the European Championship qualifiers. The team will play Montenegro on Friday, 5th September 2025 (18:15 CEST) at Stadio Alberto Picco in La Spezia, and North Macedonia on Tuesday, 9th September 2025 (18:15 CEST) at Stadion Petar Miloševski in Bitola.

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LIPANI, PROUD TO BE LIGURIAN. For Lipani, born in Genoa and raised in the Rossoblù youth teams, this is a special moment: "Playing in Liguria, my homeland, is an honour – having the opportunity to wear the blue jersey in front of my fellow countrymen will be something special." The Sassuolo midfielder doesn't hide his pride at his first call-up to the U21s: "It's always a great feeling," he confesses. "Even though I've worn this jersey many times for the youth teams (winning a U19 European Championship in Malta and finishing second at the U20 World Cup in Argentina in 2023, ed.), it's always a tremendous privilege. Every call-up, starting with the U15s, is always exciting, like it's the first time." The goals, as stated by new coach Silvio Baldini, are clear: the Euros and the Olympics. "Playing in competitions like this is never easy, but we're a strong team, and I'm sure we'll help each other get to where we want to be. We’re enthusiastic, and the new coach's impression was immediately positive, so we'll try to put his ideas into practice right away." Finally, a look at their next opponents: Montenegro and North Macedonia. "International matches are always tough. Our opponents will want to prove their worth: regardless of the names, we need to pay attention to everyone." For Lipani and his teammates, the future is already here. Two challenges, a land that feels like home, and a jersey unlike any other. Because blue, especially when you wear it in front of your people, is never a colour: it's a destiny.

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MARIANUCCI'S EXCITEMENT. The first words of Luca Marianucci, a defender born in 2004, have arrived from the training camp in Tirrenia, announcing his first call-up to the U21 national team. Interviewed by Vivo Azzurro TV, the Napoli player doesn't hide his excitement: "It was a goal I'd set for myself a couple of years ago," he confesses, "and wearing the blue jersey is a privilege." The atmosphere is relaxed, and he's eager to perform well, ahead of the qualifying matches against Montenegro and North Macedonia. Marianucci speaks enthusiastically about the group and their new coach, Silvio Baldini: "The coach is a fantastic person. These days, he's been instilling his vision of football in us." This expression of respect is also confirmed by the words of his club coach, Antonio Conte: "Baldini is a fantastic person and an excellent coach." From Tirrenia's proximity to his home, to the visit of the senior national team delegation leader Gianluigi Buffon: "He made a great impression on me; I'd only seen him on TV or in video games!" The Italian defender, who is experiencing some special moments, is already looking ahead: "We're very excited. Our goals are what the coach said: to win the Euros and the Olympics."

SQUAD LIST:

Goalkeepers: Diego Mascardi (Spezia), Edoardo Motta (Reggiana), Lapo Nava (Cremonese).

Defenders: Davide Bartesaghi (Milan), Fabio Chiarodia (Borussia M’gladbach), Costantino Favasuli (Catanzaro), Riyad Idrissi (Cagliari), Filippo Mane (Borussia Dortmund), Luca Marianucci (Napoli), Brando Moruzzi (Empoli), Marco Palestra (Cagliari).

Midfielders: Lorenzo Amatucci (Las Palmas), Tommaso Berti (Cesena), Matteo Dagasso (Pescara), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Cher Ndour (Fiorentina), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma).

Forwards: Luigi Cherubini (Sampdoria), Seydou Fini (Genoa), Luca Koleosho (Espanyol), Simone Pafundi (Sampdoria), Antonio Raimondo (Frosinone), Lorenzo Venturino (Genoa), Jeff Ekhator (Genoa).

 

SCHEDULE: 

Thursday 4th September

16:30 CEST: Online Press Conference / Coach + 1 Player

17:30 CEST: Training Session*

Evening: Transfer Tirrenia – La Spezia

 

Friday 5th September

18:15 CEST: ITALY vs. MONTENEGRO (EQ, Game 1), Stadio Alberto Picco – La Spezia

Followed by return to the Tirrenia Training Center

 

Saturday 6th September

17:30 CEST: Training Session**

 

Sunday 7th September

10:30 CEST: Training Session**

16:15 CEST: Transfer Tirrenia – Bitola

 

Monday 8th September

tbc: Online Press Conference / Coach + 1 Player

tbc: Training Session* / Ohrid

 

Tuesday 9th September

18:15 CEST: N. MACEDONIA – ITALY (EQ, Game 2), Stadion Petar Miloševski – Bitola

Followed by return to Italy (Milan / Rome)