From New Jersey to Emilia Romagna, from Harrison to Ferrara, from the senior side to the Under 21s. Luciano Spalletti will be there in the stands of the Paolo Mazza to observe the youngsters guided by Carmine Nunziata, ready to play on Tuesday at 18:15 CET against Türkiye (live on Rai 2). The aim will be to pick up another win after the one on Friday over Latvia and stay in the top spot of the Group A standing; the individual aim, as well as reflecting a collective interest, will be to show what they can do in front of Spalletti, back from the two friendlies in the USA. Nunziata has Miretti, Ruggeri, and Volpato back on the side (though not in perfect condition), a different game is to be expected with regards to the one in Cesena.

The Coach explained: “Türkiye is a side with different skills. They have more quality and have also changed their system compared to the last meeting. We have worked a lot on this in the last few days, to try and get them in trouble”. Türkiye didn’t play on Friday and will have a big chance to get back into the fight for second in Ferrara, with a fresh desire to forget the defeat in Kocaeli (0-2, goals from Miretti and Nasti). Nunziata explained: “We are speaking about a fundamental match in our campaign, the last of the season. We will need intensity and the right mindset. Türkiye is a strong side, they play football, they come after you: we have tried to tighten up a bit”. Nunziata announced “some changes” with regards to Cesena, wanting to see the same attitude from the squad. “The approach wasn’t good, the first minute was the same as the 95th, but I liked the performance for the most part and what we tried to do: double the space, playing in between the lines, I hope the squad keeps doing this”.

It will be an important day for the Italy youth: not only the Under 21s, but also the Under 19s and Under 17s will be playing, two important games for European qualification. The Club Italia continues to work on the system: “With the arrival of Arrigo Sacchi and Maurizio Viscidi, there is an important set of scouts and coaches who go to watch the players. We have the same ideas and a great dialogue. Having a coach in the stands is very important for the lads, who know they’re being observed. As for the recent past comparisons regarding the attention to the youth national teams, this did not concern Roberto Mancini, who always behaved very well with me."

A final word on the group's potential in the key final phase, still far off despite being top of the group: “The National team is a revolving door: everyone can enter and everyone can exit. Those who aren’t currently here won’t necessarily always be out”.

INITIATIVES. As at the Manuzzi in Cesena, 1000 players from local youth clubs will be watching on from the stands, with the involvement of the Youth and School Sector of the FIGC. There will also be the presentation of diplomas to 2nd and 3rd level football schools to clubs in the provinces of Ferrara and Modena in the Ferrara AIA headquarters inside the Stadio Paolo Mazza.

SHADES OF AZZURRO: The travelling exhibition from the Museo del Calcio will stop by Ferrara. Free entry from 9:00 CET to 19:00 CET on  Monday 25 and Tuesday 26.

 

Squad List

Goalkeepers: Sebastiano Desplanches (Palermo), Filippo Rinaldi (Olbia), Gioele Zacchi (Giana Erminio);
Defenders: Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna), Diego Coppola (Hellas Verona), Daniele Ghilardi (Sampdoria), Michael Olabode Kayode (Fiorentina), Lorenzo Pirola (Salernitana), Matteo Ruggeri (Atalanta), Riccardo Turicchia (Juventus), Mattia Zanotti (San Gallo)
Midfielders: Alessandro Bianco (Reggiana), Cesare Casadei (Chelsea), Giovanni Fabbian (Bologna), Jacopo Fazzini (Empoli), Luis Hasa (Juventus), Fabio Miretti (Juventus), Cher Ndour (Braga), Matteo Prati (Cagliari), Franco Tongya (Aek Larnaca), Cristian Volpato (Sassuolo);
Forwards: Giuseppe Ambrosino (Catanzaro), Lorenzo Colombo (Monza), Francesco Pio Esposito (Spezia), Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds), Gaetano Pio Oristanio (Cagliari).

UEFA EURO UNDER 21 2025 - GROUP A

Friday 22 March:
San Marino 0-7 Ireland
ITALY 2-0 Latvia

Tuesday 26 March:
17:00 CET: Norway vs. San Marino
18:15 CET: ITALY vs. Turkey (live on Rai 2)

Standings (with games played in brackets): ITALY (6) 14 pts, Ireland (6) 13, Norway (5) 9, Latvia (6) 7, Turkey (5) 6, San Marino (6) 0

Italy's next fixtures:

Thursday 5 September: Italy vs. San Marino
Tuesday 10 September: Norway vs. Italy
Tuesday 15 October: Italy vs. Ireland