An excellent second-half performance wasn't enough the Under-17s, who fell to a 2-1 defeat at Clairefontaine against France in the first of two friendly games scheduled at the French football training centre. Bernardo Corradi's side, who were two down in the first half (a brace by Lorient forward, Eli Junior Kroupi), fought back strongly after the break, reducing the deficit thanks to Ravaglioli's spot-kick. The Azzurrini also had several chances to equalise but it wasn't to be.

"It was a great game and work out for the lads, and something that the French Head Coach agrees with, too," said Corradi. "Being only a few days away from the Euro qualifying Elite Round stage, it was exactly what we were looking for. Two individual errors cost us and we went behind, but the team didn't change its approach to the game and played the way they wanted to, without fear, against a strong team in France, fighting back to make it 2-1, creating several chances to equalise, and forcing them to play long balls." 

Kroupi took centre stage in the first half, scoring after 10 (with a finish in the box) and 23 minutes (finishing off a counter-attack). 15 minutes after the break, Ravaglioli, who had only come on three minutes earlier as one of six subs made by Corradi on the 57th-minute mark, tucked away a penalty to make it 2-1, but Italy were unable to find the equaliser.

The lads are back in action on Thursday (11:00 CET) for the second friendly against the same opponents, before Corradi's Azzurrini go to Cyprus to face Republic of Ireland, the host nation, and Ukraine, on 7, 10 and 13 March, respectively, in the Elite Round of Euro qualification. At stake are two spots for the Finals in Hungary in May.