In or out. The match tomorrow (13 July) between Italy and Spain in the Under-19 European Championship semifinal is scheduled for 21:00 CEST (live on Rai Sport, channel 58 DT) at the Tà Qali National Stadium in Malta. A spot in the final is up for grabs against the Spanish, a team with a strong spine of Barca and Real Madrid players and who are unbeaten in eleven matches (eight official games and three friendlies, including the one played in January against Italy, narrowly beating the Azzurrini 1-0), proving to be one of the favourites in the tournament. Their journey to the semifinal has included two victories (2-1 against Iceland; 5-0 against Greece) and a goalless draw with Norway, a game in which they could afford to field many of their substitutes, with only a point required to secure top spot in Group B.

Italy will have to do without Cher Ndour, the Benfica B midfielder, as a result of the two yellow cards he picked up against Portugal and Poland. The good news, however, is the return of Luca Lipani, the Genoa midfielder, who is back available after serving his one-game suspension for the red card received against the Portuguese. The Azzurrini reached this semifinal by beating the hosts, Malta (4-0); then, a slip-up against Portugal (5-1) before the comeback draw (1-1) against Poland. The final result guaranteed passage to the semifinal thanks to a superior goal difference, finishing in second place in Group A, showing the character of a team capable of ‘climbing a mountain’ as coach Bollini put it. "After overcoming a problematic first phase, the boys reacted in the elite round by eliminating both the Germans and Belgium in Germany.” The Azzurri coach then added what spirit will be needed tomorrow: "to bring out 'our' Italianness, organised and solid, against an opponent that hasn’t lost in this European Championship, since the qualifying phases.”

Samuele Vignato, Monza striker who made his Serie A debut last season against Vicenza and was the absolute protagonist in the last match against Poland said: “The Spaniards are very strong; they have proved it with their performances in this tournament, where they haven’t lost, and have scored a lot whilst only conceding one goal. We have to remain humble and do as we know how on the pitch, and be mindful of our strengths. Tomorrow we play for everything."

Luca Koleosho, the boy with three nationalities (United States, Canada and Italy) who chose the Azzurri, plays for Espanyol. He, therefore, knows his opponents well and warns about their attacking potential: "I played against many of them in the Spanish Under-19 league. They have great technical ability, great ball possession and players who can hurt you. Their captain in particular, Ilias Achomak, who grew up at Barca (now at Villareal) and Viktor Barberà, the top scorer in these Championships (three goals in two games, starting at Barca’s academy and now at Bruges), are two very technical and fast forwards. It will be a tough match."

The other semifinal is between Portugal and Norway at 18:00 CEST at the Tony Bezzina Stadium in Paola

The semi-finals

Thursday 13 July

Portugal vs. Norway at 18:00 CEST at the Tony Bezzina Stadium in Paola

Spain vs. ITALY at 21:00 CEST at the National Stadium in Tà Qali, live on Rai Sport

Squad List

Goalkeepers: Davide Mastrantonio (Triestina), Lorenzo Palmisani (Frosinone);
Defenders: Andrea Bozzolan (Milan), Fabio Christian Chiarodia (Borussia M.), Alessandro Dellavalle (Torino), Lorenzo Dellavalle (Juventus), Michael Olabode Kayode (Fiorentina), Filippo Missori (Sassuolo), Iacopo Regonesi (Atalanta);
Midfielders: Lorenzo Amatucci (Fiorentina), Giacomo Faticanti (Roma), Luca Lipani (Genoa), Cher Ndour (Benfica), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma);
Forwards: Luca D'Andrea (Sassuolo), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Luis Hasa (Juventus), Luca Warrick Daeovie Koleosho (Espanyol), Nicolò Turco (Juventus), Samuele Vignato (Monza)