The first phase of qualification for the European Championship, played in Kosovo, has come to a close with Bernardo Corradi's lads getting their third victory in succession after beating Greece 2-0. Three matches out of three, the outcome of this exciting away match: after the hosts Kosovo (5-2), Finland (4-0) and today's match against Greece (2-0), the Azzurrini return home with a clean sweep, with eleven goals scored and just two conceded, putting in good numbers and team spirit. On the scoresheet was Simone Pafundi, the Udinese star, called up by Roberto Mancini from the youth camp held before the summer at Coverciano, who in this tournament scored four goals and provided several assists for his teammates. The second qualifying phase will be held in March next year, venue yet to be determined.

The match. The first half flowed without much action: Corradi's boys controlled the game with plenty of possession, while Greece, on the other hand, attempted to break through on various occasions but without causing too much trouble for the Azzurri defence. The deadlock was broken in the 3rd minute of added time thanks to Pafundi, who, from the left, sent a low and hard cross into the middle of the box for Genoa's Marco Romano - who scored his second goal against Finland - to fire into the roof of the net; just enough time for a goal before heading into the break with the Azzurrini leading 1-0.

At the restart, after just 3 minutes, Pafundi went from assisting to scoring: after collecting a pass on the edge of the box, first with a right-footed shot, blocked by a Greek defender, then with his left, he sent the ball under the crossbar for a goal that sealed the win. From here on, there was very little to report: Italy moved higher up the pitch, creating more chances and forcing Greece into a defensive position from which they managed to get out a few times, but never created any major problems for the Italian defence.

The other match between Finland and Kosovo ended in a draw (1-1), a result that guaranteed the Finns second place in the group (8), and passage to the next round.

Schedule, results and standings in Group 8

Matchday 1 (5 October)
Finland 2-1 Greece
Kosovo 2-5 ITALY
Matchday 2 (8 October)
Greece 5-0 Kosovo
ITALY 4-0 Finland

Matchday 3 (11 October)
Kosovo 1-1 Finland

ITALY 2-0 Greece

Standings: ITALY 9 points, Finland 4, Greece 3, Kosovo 1

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Tommaso Martinelli (Fiorentina), Francesco Tommasi (Inter);
Defenders: Matteo Cocchi (Inter), Tommaso Della Mora (Inter), Gabriel Ramaj (Atalanta), Thomas Renda (Fiorentina), Edoardo Sadotti (Fiorentina), Alessandro Ventre (Juventus), Francesco Verde (Juventus);
Midfielders: Francesco Crapisto (Juventus), Gabriele Finocchiaro (Juventus), Mattia Mannini (Roma), Leonardo Mendicino (Atalanta), Simone Pafundi (Udinese), Lorenzo Riccio (Atalanta), Marco Romano (Genoa);
Forwards: Federico Ragnoli Galli (Atalanta), Emanuele Rao (SPAL), Tommaso Ravaglioli (Bologna), Filippo Scotti (AC Milan).

Staff - Coach: Bernardo Corradi; Selector: Filippo Corti; National Youth Coordinator: Maurizio Viscidi; Assisstant coach: Massimiliano Favo; Goalkeeper coach: Davide Quironi; Fitness coach: Adalberto Zamuner; Match Analyst: Andrea Loiacono; Doctors: Francesco Maria Nifosi, Attilio Romano, Alessandro Carducci e Alessio Rossato; Nutritionist: Claudio Pecorella; Physios. Fabrizio Casati ed Enrico Matera; Academic tutor: Stefano Presciutti; Secretary: Massimo Petracchini