The Under-18 National Team came from behind to beat Romania 3-1 in the first of the two friendlies scheduled at the Stadionul Concordia in Chiajna. After falling behind through a 23rd-minute penalty from Hellas Verona’s Ioan Vermeșan, the Azzurrini equalised in first-half stoppage time thanks to a goal from AC Milan’s Filippo Scotti. After the restart, Juventus’ Filippo Pagnucco (61’) and Atalanta’s Leonardo Mendicino (83’) scored spot-kicks, both of which were won by Genoa’s Seydou Fini.

“We started quite well,” said Head Coach Daniele Franceschini. “However, our intensity levels then dropped a bit and, as a result, we lost a few too many duels. We did much better in the second half both in and out of possession, allowing us to go on and win the game.”

The Azzurrini will return to action at the Stadionul Concordia against the Romanians at 10:00 CET on Sunday 19 November: “In the second match, we’ll make sure everyone gets playing time. With next year in mind, our objective is to help the lads grow by giving them the right amount of minutes.”

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Tommaso Martinelli (Fiorentina), Diego Mascardi (Spezia)**;
Defenders: Adam Bakoune (AC Milan), Alessandro Bassino (Juventus), Filippo Pagnucco (Juventus), Matteo Giuseppe Plaia (Roma), Gabriel Ramaj (Atalanta), Edoardo Sadotti (Fiorentina), Federico Simonetto (Atalanta), Alessandro Ventre (Sampdoria);
Midfielders: Andrea Bonanomi (Atalanta), Francesco Crapisto (Juventus), Lapo Deli (Fiorentina), Cosimo Fiorini (FC Zürich), Leonardo Mendicino (Atalanta), Lorenzo Riccio (Atalanta);
Forwards: Lorenzo Carfora (Benevento), Giacomo De Pieri (Inter)*, Seydou Fini (Genoa), Tommaso Ravaglioli (Bologna), Filippo Scotti (AC Milan), Matteo Spinaccè (Inter).

*called up to replace the unavailable Alessandro Bonomi (AC Milan)
**called up to replace the unavailable Francesco Saverio Plaia (Spezia), who, however, will remain with the group pending further medical assessments

Staff – Head Coach: Daniele Franceschini; Assistant Coach: Enrico Battisti; Goalkeeping Coach: Stefano Baroncini; Fitness Coach: Enrico Ghielmetti; Match Analyst: Gianluca Mazziotti; Doctors: Cosma Calderaro and Francesco Cuccaro; Physiotherapist: Andrea Cantera; Secretary: Guglielmo Cammino.