Italy U18s began their season with a 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands in ‘s-Gravenzande in the first of two friendlies scheduled between the sides. Gino Verhulst, an attacking midfielder for PSV Eindhoven, gave the Dutch the lead 25 minutes in. Italy were reduced to ten men in the 57th minute, after Juventus’ Francesco Verde was sent off. The Oranje doubled their advantage in the 75th minute, with captain Joel van den Berg securing the win. 

“It was an even game, especially in the first half,” said Daniele Franceschini. “We were just not as composed as our opponents in front of goal. In the second half, despite being one man down pretty early on, the attitude of the team was still positive. Such matches help us grow and learn where to improve.”

Italy will face Netherlands once more on Monday 9 September (19:00 CEST) in Noordwijk. “I will rotate the line-up for the next match to give playing time to those who didn’t get a chance today,” concluded the Head Coach.

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Gioele Bosi (Lazio), Massimo Pessina (Bologna), Tommaso Vannucchi (Fiorentina);
Defenders: Cristian Cama (Roma), Mattia Cappelletti (Milan), Federico Colombo (Milan), Alessandro De Luca (Bologna), Emanuel Benjamín de Sant'ana Balbinot (Real Madrid), Giovanni Lauricella (Empoli), Tommaso Rugani (Empoli)* Francesco Verde (Juventus);
Midfielders: Alessandro Ciardi (Liefering), Federico Coletta (Roma), Alessandro Di Nunzio (Roma), Matteo Lontani (Juventus), Matteo Mantini (Inter), Andrea Orlandi (Empoli), Diego Pisani (Fiorentina), Ernesto Perin (Milan);
Forwards: Samuele Belmonte (Roma), Alex Castiello (Atalanta), Salvatore Monaco (Empoli), Alessandro Sugamele (Roma).

*called up on 1 September to replace the unavailable Manuel Maffessoli (Atalanta).

Staff - Head Coach: Daniele Franceschini; Assistant Coach: Manuel Pasqual; Goalkeeping Area Coordinator: Gaetano Petrelli; Goalkeeping Coach: Stefano Baroncini; Fitness Coach: Roberto Ghielmetti; Match Analyst: Guido Didona; Doctors: Francesco Cuccaro and Giorgio Liberati Petrucci; Physiotherapist: Alessandro Sferrella; Secretary: Guglielmo Cammino.