In the U21s’ last 16 matches, only one side has managed to get the better of them: Ukraine in the Maurice Revello tournament (4-0). At 18:15 CET tomorrow, the two teams will meet at the Stadio Alberto Picco in La Spezia in what will be the Azzurrini’s final match of 2024, during which they for the European Championship finals in October. For Carmine Nunziata, the clash provides another opportunity to try out players before the next international window in March, just three months before Slovakia 2025. “It’s been an important and exciting journey,” said the Head Coach. “Whenever we’ve taken to the pitch, we’ve shown intensity. We’ll see each other again in March, so we’ll have to follow and visit the lads until then. Tomorrow’s game will be important to assess the level we’re at and those who haven’t played as much. But it’s always the team that makes the difference.

Nunziata returned to the draw against France in Empoli: “It was an important match against a strong side, but we made a few technical mistakes and tactical errors that led to us conceding.” Italy vs. Ukraine represents an opportunity for everyone: “It’s a chance that the lads will have to try and make the most of. We usually don’t have a lot of time to work; however, this time around, we’ve had a bit more, allowing us to improve certain things. There will be a few changes compared to the match in Empoli, and, during tomorrow’s match, I hope we’ll see some of the things we’ve worked on in the past few days.”

Zanotti won’t be involved (“if it was a final, he’d play, but it’s right to send players back to their clubs in a good condition”), but Spezia men Nicolò Bertola and Pio Esposito will take to the pitch: “Spezia are flying high in Serie B, and, given the enthusiasm there at the moment, I expect a good crowd tomorrow.” Simone Pafundi will also play: “He has some great qualities, and we hope that he starts getting more playing time at club level too.”

Nunziata also commented on tomorrow’s opponents: “Ukraine are an excellent side who continually make it to the latter stages at World Cups and European Championships. They are physically strong at the back and have quality up front.” Italy want to make up for the 4-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of the Ukrainians in Aubagne on 6 June.

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Sebastiano Desplanches (Palermo), Jacopo Sassi (Modena), Gioele Zacchi (Latina);
Defenders: Nicolò Bertola (Spezia), Giovanni Bonfanti (Pisa), Diego Coppola (Hellas Verona), Daniele Ghilardi (Hellas Verona), Gabriele Guarino (Carrarese), Michael Olabode Kayode (Fiorentina), Marco Palestra (Atalanta), Lorenzo Pirola (Olympiacos), Matteo Ruggeri (Atalanta), Riccardo Turicchia (Catanzaro), Mattia Zanotti (Lugano);
Midfielders: Cesare Casadei (Chelsea), Giovanni Fabbian (Bologna), Fabio Miretti (Genoa), Cher Ndour (Besiktas), Matteo Prati (Cagliari);
Forwards: Giuseppe Ambrosino (Frosinone), Francesco Pio Esposito (Spezia), Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds), Simone Pafundi (Lausanne), Cristian Volpato (Sassuolo)