The new European qualifying adventure for the Under 21 National Team begins on 3 September at Stadio Carlo Castellani in Empoli and continues on the 7th at Stadio Romeo Menti in Vicenza. Luxembourg and Montenegro form the opposition that will open the two-year period of football leading to Euro 2023. Having met last night at the Olympic Preparation Centre in Tirrenia, the Azzurrini begin their preparations today: The group includes some familiar faces, and eleven players who have received their first call-up: Defenders Andrea Cambiaso of Genoa (called up yesterday by Nicolato in place of Kaleb Okoli), Andrea Carboni (Cagliari), Antonino Gallo (Lecce) and Andrea Papetti (Brescia), midfielders Marco Brescianini (Monza), Jacopo Da Riva (Spal), Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus) and Filippo Ranocchia (Juventus), and forwards Matteo Cancellieri (Verona), Roberto Piccoli (Atalanta) and Kelvin Yeboah (Sportklub Sturm Graz).

Like Okoli, Sebastiano Esposito will also not participate in the upcoming games: In his place, the Italian head coach has called up Inter striker Eddie Salcedo.

A new team, but above all a very young group with which Nicolato will have to work. As the Coach underlined in today’s press conference, “The spirit is to value the players we have available. As for the tactical aspect, we will see which players are a little more ready, then we’ll study how to arrange them on the pitch. We have uncovered roles such as those on the wings, we’ll have to think about what system to adopt based on these criteria. We want to play a technical and proactive style of football, so I hope to have some players who can dribble to be able to play this type of game”.

While there is only one previous match against Montenegro - a friendly match won by Italy on 4 June 2014 - there are twelve against Luxembourg, all in favour of the Azzurrini who have amassed a total of twelve victories. “Our opponents - continued Nicolato - have already played, while we have two training sessions to complete before taking to the field. It’s clear that we can’t invent anything, we need some time. Luxembourg have a group that were all together last year and have already played two games. I’m used to not underestimating anyone, we know our difficulties and we know that we will have to be patient and stubborn. Two years ago, we started with one team and ended up with a different one for various reasons, from those who moved to the senior team to Covid-related problems, but we achieved some good things together. Now we’re embarking on a new two-year period with some very young new players, there are some from the class of 2001 and 2002. I hope there is continuity”.

The Azzurrini return to Empoli ten years after the last ninety minutes played there on 8 February 2011 in a 1-0 friendly win against England. The Under 21’s have played six matches in Vicenza, five European Championship qualifiers and, most recently, one friendly with Tunisia on 15 October 2018.

After these two matches, the Under 21’s will be hosted by Bosnia and Herzegovina on 8 October and will face off against Sweden at Monza’s stadium on Tuesday 12 October, with both matches valid for qualifying for the next European Under 21 Championship.

Squad List

Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Cremonese), Alessandro Plizzari (AC Milan), Alessandro Russo (Alessandria);

Defenders: Raoul Bellanova (Girondins de Bordeaux), Riccardo Calafiori (Roma), Andrea Cambiaso (Genoa), Andrea Carboni (Cagliari), Gabriele Ferrarini (Perugia), Antonino Gallo (Lecce), Matteo Lovato (Atalanta), Andrea Papetti (Brescia), Lorenzo Pirola (Monza), Iyenoma Destiny Udogie (Udinese);

Midfielders: Marco Brescianini (Monza), Jacopo Da Riva (Spal), Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus), Filippo Ranocchia (Juventus), Samuele Ricci (Empoli), Nicolò Rovella (Genoa), Sandro Tonali (AC Milan);

Forwards: Matteo Cancellieri (Hellas Verona), Lorenzo Colombo (Spal), Roberto Piccoli (Atalanta), Eddie Salcedo (Inter), Emanuel Vignato (Bologna), Kelvin Yeboah (Sportklub Sturm Graz).

Schedule (all times CEST)

Monday 30 August

10.30 - Training (open only for RAI TV operators)

13.45 – Coach Nicolato press conference (RAI in attendance, followed by a Zoom for the press)

17.30 - Training (closed)

Tuesday 31 August

10.30 - Training (open only for RAI TV operators)

13.30 - Player press conference (RAI in attendance, followed by a Zoom for the press)

17.30 - Training (closed)

Wednesday 1 September

10.30 - Training (open only for RAI TV operators)

13.30 - Player press conference (RAI in attendance, followed by a Zoom for the press)

17.30 - Training (closed)

Thursday 2 September

10.30 - Training (closed)

13.45 - Coach Nicolato press conference (Rai in attendance, followed by a Zoom for the press)

19.00 – Visit to Stadio Carlo Castellani in Empoli

Friday 3 September

10.00 - Coach Nicolato interview exclusive to RAI TV

10.30 - Training (closed)

17.30 – ITALY vs. LUXEMBOURG - Stadio Carlo Castellani, Empoli. Press conference post-game and return to Tirrenia

Saturday 4 September

10.30 - Training (closed)

17.00 – Transfer to Vicenza Tiepolo Hotel

Sunday 5 September

15.30 - Coach Nicolato interview with RAI TV

17.30 - Training (closed)

Monday 6 September

10.30 - Training (closed)

13.45 - Coach Nicolato press conference (RAI in attendance, followed by a Zoom for the press)

19.00 - Visit to Stadio Romeo Menti in Monza

Tuesday 7 September

10.00 - Coach Nicolato interview exclusive to RAI TV

17.30 ITALY vs. MONTENEGRO - Stadio Romeo Menti, Vicenza. Press conference post-game and return of players to their respective clubs