Following a draw in Latvia and a win over Turkey, the Under-21s are now preparing to face Norway, at the stadio Druso in Bolzano on Tuesday 17 October at 17:45 CEST (live on Rai), to get their EURO 2025 qualifying campaign back under way. The Azzurrini will come up against a side who has taken maximum points from their opening two fixtures and kept two clean sheets. But Italy have over a week to prepare for the game from their training base at the Olympic Preparation Centre in Tirrenia, with an in-house friendly scheduled on Thursday against the Under 18s. "To have over a week to prepare for just one game is a really good thing," explained Head Coach Carmine Nunziata in his press conference that officially opened up the camp. "This allows us, with a new group of players, to work hard, get to know each other better and work on improving a few aspects, also because we are going to be coming up against a very strong side."

There is good news for the Azzurrini coming from performances at club football: "We are seeing players have a really positive start to the season, with many of them playing regularly. This shows that young players can be counted on; it is a good thing for them and for our National sides." With respect to one month ago, when some physical issues could be seen, fitness levels are now getting back to their best: "We aren't yet at 100%, but almost. The lads are playing and their physical shape is getting stronger." Instead, the style of football stays the same: "We'll look to dominate games and play with intensity, which is something we have talked about in our National Youth Sector Head Coach's meetings, which also saw Spalletti involved. We want to build from the back and play with intensity, with some adjustments when necessary depending on the opposition."

Yesterday evening, Sebastiano Esposito joined the group, but Lorenzo Colombo has been forced to leave the camp today, while Luca Koleosho has been able to make it to Tirrenia due to a bout of flu.

Squad List

Goalkeepers: Sebastiano Desplanches (Palermo), Filippo Rinaldi (Olbia), Gioele Zacchi (Giana Erminio)
Defenders: Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna), Diego Coppola (Verona), Daniele Ghilardi (Sampdoria), Gabriele Guarino (Empoli), Michael Olabode Kayode (Fiorentina), Lorenzo Pirola (Salernitana), Matteo Ruggeri (Atalanta), Riccardo Turicchia (Juventus), Mattia Zanotti (St. Gallen)
Midfielders: Tommaso Baldanzi (Empoli), Alessandro Bianco (Reggiana), Edoardo Bove (Roma), Cesare Casadei (Leicester), Giovanni Fabbian (Bologna), Jacopo Fazzini (Empoli), Fabio Miretti (Juventus), Cher Ndour (Paris Saint Germain), Matteo Prati (Cagliari)
Forwards: Lorenzo Colombo (Monza), Francesco Pio Esposito (Spezia), Sebastiano Esposito (Sampdoria), Luca Koleosho (Burnley) Marco Nasti (Bari), Gaetano Pio Oristanio (Cagliari)

UEFA EURO UNDER 21 2025 - GROUP A
Friday 13 October
14:00 CEST: Latvia vs. Rep. of Ireland 
18:45 CEST: Turkey vs. San Marino
Tuesday 17 October
14:00 CEST: Latvia vs. Turkey
17:45 CEST: ITALY vs. Norway (Bolzano, live on Rai)

Table (gmaes played in brackets): Norway (2) and Rep. of Ireland (2) 6, Italy (2) and Latvia (3) 4, Turkey (2) and San Marino (2) 0

ITALY’S FIXTURE SCHEDULE
Tuesday 17 October (17:45): Italy vs. Norway (Bolzano)
Thursday 16 November: San Marino vs. Italy
Tuesday 21 November: Republic of Ireland vs. Italy
Friday 22 March 2024: Italy vs. Latvia
Tuesday 26 March 2024: Italy vs. Turkey
Thursday 5 September 2024: Italy vs. San Marino
Tuesday 10 September 2024: Norway vs. Italy
Tuesday 15 October 2024: Italy vs. Republic of Ireland