After over 21 years, the last being in November 2001, the stadio Oreste Granillo in Reggio Calabria will host the Under 21s again. On Monday at 20:00 CEST, Paolo Nicolato's side will face Ukraine in what is their last test before the Euros in June in Romania and Georgia. They come into the game on the back of a win in Serbia courtesy of Samuele Mulattieri's double. The game is set to be shown live on figc.it, Facebook and Twitter, and on the official Azzurri YouTube channel. Commentary will be done by Andrea Distaso, and he will be joined by Bernardo Corradi for technical analysis. From 19:30 CEST, it will be possible to experience all the build-up from the Granillo with Barbara Cirillo and several guests. There will also be post-match reaction with interviews and analysis.

In these days, the FIGC has welcomed a Ukranian delegation for a fixture that Nicolato says "cannot be like other games." "Playing against them is a moment of growth for all of us," explains the Head Coach. "I believe in Sport and the values it transmits, like inclusion." Reflecting on the technical aspect, Ukraine represents a further test for the Azzurrini, as they too will be involved in the European Finals this summer after finishing second in their group behind France. "It will be a very difficult game," admitted Nicolato. "They have a lot of interesting players who are at a high level: they keep the ball very well and have quick trequartista who can hurt you. It'll be a different game to the one against Serbia, but we'll face it fully focused and competitively. It's good to dominate and win, but it's also good to be put under a different type of pressure sometimes."

It'll be the last time for the lads to show what they are about before the Euros in the summer: "We have a lot of players that we know well who aren't available at the moment, but there are some lads who are showing themselves to be worthy candidates for the 23-player squad. The league form will also give us further indication, always hoping that injuries don't play a part, obviously. The aim is to continually raise the level: among the players, there's a great focus on creating a group, and the level of competition amongst themselves is always growing; this helps to increase that level more quickly."

There's a lot excitement around Reggio Calabria in the build-up to the game: "We're happy to be here, in a beautiful city with such welcoming fans. The lads need support because they are our future. There's no system in the world that can last if it doesn't contain youth in it. It's a real shame for Fabbian (Reggina player, like Pierozzi): only today has he been able to do a bit of light training after an injury has niggled away from the last league game. But his health and the respect for the Club is what is most important in cases like this. Instead, we'll have Fagioli back, who in the last three days has trained with us." Before the pre-match walk around on the pitch at the Granillo, Nicolato - who announced that Samuele Ricci will captain the side for this match - met with Reggina Youth Team Coaches at Italy's training camp. 

The Exhibition. At the Pinacoteca Civica in Reggio Calabria, the travelling exhibition by the Museo del Calcio called "Sfumature di Azzurro" is now open, with several pieces of memorabilia on show, including the 2006 World Cup won in Germany and the Euros at Wembley in 2021. The exhibition will also be open this afternoon until 19:00 CEST, and on Monday from 8.30 until 13:00 CEST. 

Tickets for the game. Tickets for the game on Monday 27 March against Ukraine  can be purchased at Vivaticket vendor points and online at figc.vivaticket.it or vivaticket.com. Prices are set to remain affordable, with discount prices for Under 18s (click HERE for all the info).

Squad List

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 (OCG Nice), 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)