The bond between Lorenzo Pirola and the Under-21 National Team has deep roots, and it’s a story that continues to develop. He was in the Italy squad for the 2021 European Under-21 Championship, and he was then a key figure for the team in the two-year period between 2021 and 2023, scoring against Switzerland in the finals co-hosted by Romania and Georgia. Now, he’s the captain of the side looking to secure their spot at the final tournament in Slovakia next summer, something the Azzurrini will achieve if they avoid defeat to the Republic of Ireland at the Stadio Nero Rocco in Trieste at 18:30 CEST on Tuesday 15 October. “We’ve got ourselves into a good position, but, as the coach has rightly emphasised, we must only focus on winning,” said Pirola to figc.it. “We’re also aware that if Norway win in Ireland, we’ll qualify without even playing. Nevertheless, we have a duty to remain focused and then take to the pitch aiming to win, because it’s never a good thing to play for a draw. As the coach also said, it’s a good thing that we’re preparing for just a single game and not two.”

Lorenzo’s career has recently taken a different path. From Salernitana to Olympiacos, from Serie A relegation (“hugely disappointing”) to the Europa League. “They really wanted me to come to Greece,” he explained. “I had to think about it because it’s not a classic transfer choice for a 22-year-old, but I was so struck by the project that I accepted the offer. In 2025, the club will celebrate its 100th anniversary. There, you play to win the league, and there’s also the Europa League. Last year, they won the Conference League, so the level is very high.” On Sunday, despite being named on the bench, Pirola got to experience the derby between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos. 

Lorenzo’s wife, Martina, has joined him in Athens: “We get along well and now live in Voula in a residential area where some of my teammates live. I’ve been getting to know them in my first few months, as well as the structure of the club. Obviously, being the only Italian, I speak English to everyone. I know the basics of Greek, like ‘Kaliméra’ (good morning, Ed.). I knew this experience would teach me a lot, also in terms of the language, because otherwise no one would understand me! Athens is comparable to Rome, although I’ve never lived there. I imagine it is chaotic but also beautiful, with the sea and so much history within a few kilometres.”

In terms of food, it’s all quite simple: “We have breakfast and lunch at the training facility, and then we have the opportunity to bring dinner home, also because, like me, they care a lot about food.” His habits have changed, as have his sporting objectives: “At Monza, I played to win, whereas the main aim in Salerno was to avoid relegation. At Olympiacos, our thoughts are only on winning. The team and players are strong, and I struggled in my first few weeks there. There are five high-quality teams in the Greek top flight (Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, Aris, Paok and AEK, Ed.), making it competitive, and you also need to dig deep against sides who are considered small on paper.”

Pirola, who has forged a relationship with former Panathinaikos and current AEK Athens goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli (“we got on immediately; he explained a few things to me), still has a close bond with Italy: “I watch Serie A as soon as it’s possible, and when my wife lets me,” he joked. “I like watching football and have lots of friends I follow, even if it’s all very intense with all the travelling, matches and training sessions. But, yes, I stay up to date.” Along with various players from the Italian top flight, Pirola is currently preparing for the U21s’ upcoming match against the Republic of Ireland: “We all have one big objective: to qualify for the Euros and win it,” he explained. “It’d be the perfect conclusion to a journey that, for me, started at U15 level. I’ve shared the U21 changing room with many lads who have gone on to feature for the senior side. That’s an aim that we all share. Each U21 group has different qualities, but we know that we’re strong.”

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Sebastiano Desplanches (Palermo), Jacopo Sassi (Modena), Gioele Zacchi (Latina);
Defenders: Nicolò Bertola (Spezia), Giovanni Bonfanti (Pisa), Daniele Ghilardi (Hellas Verona), Michael Olabode Kayode (Fiorentina), Marco Palestra (Atalanta), Lorenzo Pirola (Olympiacos), Nicolò Savona (Juventus), Riccardo Turicchia (Catanzaro), Mattia Viti (Empoli), Mattia Zanotti (Lugano);
Midfielders: Tommaso Baldanzi (Roma), Alessandro Bianco (Monza), Edoardo Bove (Fiorentina), Cesare Casadei (Chelsea), Giovanni Fabbian (Bologna), Jacopo Fazzini (Empoli), Cher Ndour (Besiktas), Matteo Prati (Cagliari);
Forwards: Giuseppe Ambrosino (Frosinone), Francesco Pio Esposito (Spezia), Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds), Luca Koleosho (Burnley), Antonio Raimondo (Venezia)

2025 UEFA EURO UNDER-21 QUALIFYING - GROUP A

Friday 11 October
18:30 – Türkiye vs. Latvia
20:00 Republic of Ireland vs. Norway

Tuesday 15 October
18:30 – ITALY vs. Republic of Ireland
18:30 – Norway vs. Türkiye
18:30 – San Marino vs. Latvia

Table (number of games played in brackets): ITALY (9) 21 points, Republic of Ireland (8) 17, Norway (8) 15, Türkiye (8) 10, Latvia (8) 8, San Marino (9) 0