Two matches, two opportunities, the final ones before the final phase of the European Championship, to try out formations and evaluate players. The National Under-21 team gathered in Rome in view of the two fixtures on Friday 24th (18:00 CET) in Backa Topola against Serbia and Monday 27th (20:00 CEST) at the 'Oreste Granillo' stadium in Reggio Calabria against Ukraine. After training in the afternoon at the CPO 'Giulio Onesti', the team will move to Fiumicino in the evening, from where they are scheduled to depart for Serbia tomorrow.

"We would have liked to prepare better for these two matches, but again, as already happened during the season, we have many absences due to injury" the words of coach Paolo Nicolato in the press conference. "However, we have to try to optimise this situation, also to try out other boys. It would have been more logical and appropriate to try out a team that would project us towards the European Championship, but we mustn't get scared and know that we will have a team that will be formed at the last minute. But maybe opportunities can arise from these difficulties”.

There are several new names in the group that will face Serbia and Ukraine: among them, midfielder Bruno Zapelli ('We think he has quality, obviously to be confirmed,' Nicolato explains) and forward Tommaso Baldanzi. 'A talented player, which is not to be taken for granted,' underlines Nicolato. 'He sees things that others do not see: I like him because he is inside the game, he has a fighting spirit, talent and quality. Obviously, you have to see when levels rise: it's not certain that a player good for Serie B or Serie A in Italy is good for the international level. But for the season he is playing in Empoli, he deserves a chance'. Among the returns, compared to November, are those of Ricci and Fagioli, who have also had experience with the National A team: 'They are doing well with their respective clubs: we are talking about boys who have the right qualities and can give us a hand.

Newsletter. Given goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi's call-up to the National A team, Nicolato has summoned Alessandro Sorrentino (Monza). With the unavailabilities, also, of Andrea Cambiaso (Bologna) and Diego Coppola (Verona), defenders Alessandro Zanoli (Sampdoria) and Andrea Carboni (Venezia) have been called up.

Live streaming. The matches against Serbia and Ukraine will be streamed live on the FIGC website and on the social media profiles of the National Men's team (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok).

Ticketing. Tickets for the match on Monday 27th against Ukraine can be purchased at Vivaticket sales points and on the websites figc.vivaticket.it and vivaticket.com. There are special prices and reduced rates for the Under 18s.

Exhibition in Reggio Calabria. Reggio Calabria will be the venue for the first stop of 'Sfumature d'Azzurro' (Shades of Blue), the new travelling exhibition of the Football Museum that will accompany the home matches of the National Under-21 team in 2023. The exhibition will tell the story of the history and triumphs of the men's senior national team together with those of the Azzurri youth national teams and the Olympic national team, thanks to a selection of memorabilia from the Coverciano Museum collection. The trophies won at the 2006 World Cup in Gemany and the one won at Wembley in 2021 will be present. Free admission.

The squad

Goalkeepers: Elia Caprile (Bari), Alessandro Sorrentino (Monza), Stefano Turati (Frosinone);
Defenders: Raoul Bellanova (Inter), Andrea Carboni (Venezia), Antonino Gallo (Lecce), Matteo Lovato (Salernitana), Caleb Okoli (Atalanta), Fabiano Parisi (Empoli), Niccolò Pierozzi (Reggina), Lorenzo Pirola (Salernitana), Matteo Ruggeri (Atalanta), Destiny Iyenoma Udogie (Udinese), Mattia Viti (Nizza), Alessandro Zanoli (Sampdoria);
Midfielders: Edoardo Bove (Roma), Cesare Casadei (Reading), Salvatore Esposito (Spezia), Giovanni Fabbian (Reggina), Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus), Samuele Ricci (Torino), Bruno Zapelli (Belgrano);
Forwards: Tommaso Baldanzi (Empoli), Matteo Cancellieri (Lazio), Lorenzo Colombo (Lecce), Samuele Mulattieri (Frosinone), Gaetano Pio Oristanio (Volendam)

The schedule

Monday 20 March
16.30 CET training at the CPO Giulio Onesti Acqua Acetosa (open to the press) followed by transfer to Hilton Hotel Fiumicino

Tuesday 21 March
10.00 CET Charter flight Rome-Belgrade and transfer to Patria Hotel - Subotica
17.30 CET training (open to the press)

Wednesday 22 March
10.30 CET training (open to the press)
13.30 CET press conference 1 player (Zoom and in person)
17.00 CET training (closed)

Thursday 23 March
13.45 CET Nicolato press conference (Zoom and in person)
17.00 CET training (open to the press for the first 15 minutes)

Friday 24 March
18.00 CET Serbia vs ITALY (Stadio TSC Arena–Backa Topola)
followed by post-match press conference via Zoom and in person and transfer to Falkensteiner Hotel in Belgrade

Saturday 25 March
10.30 CET charter flight Belgrade-Reggio Calabria and transfer to the Hotel Continental in Reggio Calabria
17.00 CET training (closed)

Sunday 26 March
10.30 CET training (closed)
13.45 CET Nicolato press conference (Zoom and in person)
18.30 CET walkaround the stadium

Monday 27 March
20.00 CEST ITALY vs Ukraine (Stadio O. Granillo–Reggio Calabria)
followed by a post-match press conference via Zoom and in person and then, the team disbands