The key thing for Italy to do is “look ahead”. Despite the Azzurrini’s defeat to Sweden a month ago and the difficulties that the Coronavirus has caused, the Under-21s are ready to resume their European qualifying campaign. Earlier on today, the team arrived in Reykjavik, where they’ll face Iceland at Víkingsvöllur at 17:30 CEST tomorrow.

Second in the Group 1 rankings with 13 points, three behind Ireland having played a game less, the Azzurrini are set to play on Icelandic turf for just the second time after their win (1-0) in September 2006 against the hosts on the day of Pierliugi Casiraghi’s debut on the Under-21 bench.

Italy will be without the two players who were forced to remain at home because of positive COVID tests: “They’re two very important players for us, and we’re not happy that we’ll have to do without them,” admitted Paolo Nicolato. “We had other problems before we announced the squad, but we need to look ahead, with there being an opportunity for the newcomers to show their qualities. Unfortunately, we had to leave some players at home, while others were called up to the senior side. It’s a period where things have to be done in the right way. It may not be possible to do what we’d like to do, but I remain optimistic. The team have shown willingness and enthusiasm, even if we don’t have the same experience as before and are missing a few players who were previously regulars.”

Nicolato isn’t looking for excuses, quite the contrary in fact: “We need to win, three points would be vital. I know that it isn’t an easy situation, but we need to get a result, even if we’ll be playing on a pitch where nobody has won. We need to perform at a maximum in difficult weather conditions and on artificial turf.”

The Head Coach emphasised just how difficult tomorrow’s match will be: “Like Sweden, football hasn’t stopped being played in Iceland, whereas our season is just beginning. We’re in better shape than a month ago, but we’re still not in tiptop condition physically. They’ll cause us problems and it’ll be an uphill battle.”