Despite a very good performance, Italy’s Under-16s lost 2-3 to Spain in the first of two friendlies at Coverciano. Atlético Madrid’s forward Guille Trujillano gave Spain the lead 12 minutes in, before Luis Navarro from the same club extended the scoreline in the 54th minute. Midfielder Raúl Pertea from Real Madrid scored the third after 72 minutes. The Azzurrini fought back with a goal from Empoli’s forward Jacopo Landi in the 89th minute, and Juventus’s Riccardo Paonessa gave the team further consolation by earning and converting a penalty in added time.

“We fought hard in the first half and deserved a lead”, emphasised Coach Marco Scarpa. “In the second half, we overextended and that landed us in trouble. However, I really liked the team’s reaction in the final minutes when we almost levelled. There were positive performances which will be analysed for future games.”

MATCH REPORT. Italy played in the usual 4-3-1-2 formation, with Corigliano supporting Fugazzola and Fustini up front. Spain fielded a 4-2-3-1, with Jairo Morilla, René and Luis Navarro behind striker Guille Trujillano.

Guille Trujillano gave Spain the lead 12 minutes in with a precise left-footer off René’s through ball. The Azzurrini were quick to respond, with Rocchetti calling Diego Piqueras into action multiple times in set pieces. Scarpa’s boys nearly levelled just before half-time, when Corigliano’s effort was miraculously deflected by a defender. 

The second half opened with an early chance for Spain, but Rúben Gómez’s effort from 25 meters went wide. Enzo Alves, son of former Brazilian captain Marcelo, followed up a few minutes later, his shot from outside the box cleared by a quick Faccioli. Spain’s second goal came in the 54th minute when Rúben Gómez fed the ball to Luis Navarro, who slotted it in. Italy reacted with Corigliano intercepting a pass by Diego Piqueras and having a go at goal, only for the ball to be deflected to a corner. Just when things were going Italy’s way, Spain found the third goal in Raúl Pertea’s 72nd-minute left-footer from far out. Scarpa’s boys did not give up, however, and were rewarded in the final minutes of the game. Landi scored from Paonessa’s deep cross in the 89th minute and Paonessa converted a penalty himself just two minutes later. Italy had a last chance to equalise seconds before the final whistle, but Landi’s effort was centimetres wide. 

The Azzurrini will take on Spain once again on Thursday 19 September (11:00 CEST) on Pitch 2 of the Centro Tecnico Federale in Coverciano. Coach: “There will be changes to the starting XI as I want to give all the boys an opportunity. These matches are for us to grow and improve as a team.”