It was a game that honoured the name of one of the most illustrious fixtures in world football history. In Helsinki in the opening match of the second stage of Under-19 Euro qualifying between Italy and Germany, the Azzurrini created plenty of chances to score before undeservedly going a goal down in the 29th minute after St Pauli forward (on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt) Igor Matanovic bagged the opener. It was 1-0 at the break and, at the start of the second half, the Germans kept up their high press.

Scalvini and Coppola repeatedly got the ball to the feet of the Italy forwards with precise and direct passing and the Azzurrini profited from this, scoring twice in five minutes. The first came from Nasti, who chased down Miretti’s free-kick, drove into the penalty area and rifled the ball home (78’). Five minutes later, Gnonto received the ball in the six-yard box, brought it down, turned stuck it into the bottom corner (83’). Bayern Munich’s Torben Rhein then equalised for Germany from a free-kick in the 88th minute and it ended 2-2. “It’s a shame to have conceded that late equaliser, and from a set-piece as well,” said coach Carmine Nunziata. “However, we played well and probably deserved to win. Away from that, we have two more games coming up and we need to play in the same way.”

Next, Italy will take on hosts Finland on Saturday at 15:00 CET and the game will be available to watch live on the FIGC website.

Italy 2-2 Germany

Goals: Matanovic 29’, Nasti 78’, Gnonto 83’, Rhein 88’

Italy: Deslanches; Mulazzi, Coppola, Scalvini, Turicchia (Zanotti 71’); Fabbian, Faticanti, Giovane (C) (Baldanzi 78’); Gnonto (Ghilardi 87’), Miretti, Ambrosino (Nasti 71’). Coach Nunziata. Subs.: Zacchi, , Terracciano, Fontanarosa, Fazzini.

Germany: Urbig; Jessen (Gedik 87’), Gechter, Arrei-Mbi, Rothe; Castrop, Rhein (C); Kade (Hoppe 87’); Sieb (Bobzien 87’), Amyn (Wagner 59’); Matanovic. Coach: Wolf. Subs.: Ernst, Lelle, Bruckner, Riedel, Semic.

Referee: Godinho (POR). Linesmen: Soares Vaz Freire (POR) and Jantunen (FIN). Fourth official: Reitala (FIN).

Bookings: Gechter 27’, Amyn 48’, Scalvini 52’, Giovane 57’, Hoppe 88’, Matanovic 90’, Nasti 90’,

Fixtures and standings (Italian time - Finlandia +1)

Wednesday 23 March

Italy 2-2 Germany

Finland vs. Belgium, Myyrmäki Stadium (Vantaa), 17:30

Standings: Italy and Germany 1, Finland and Belgium 0

Saturday 26 March

Belgum vs. Germany, Myyrmäki Stadium (Vantaa), 10:00

Finland vs. Italy, Myyrmäki Stadium (Vantaa), 15:00 (live stream on the FIGC website)

Tuesday 29 March

Germany vs. Finland, Helsinki Football Stadium (Helsinki), 16:30

Belgium vs. Italy, Myyrmäki Stadium (Vantaa), 16:30 (live stream on the FIGC website)

 

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Sebastiano Desplanches (Milan), Gioele Zacchi (Sassuolo);

Defenders: Alessandro Fontanarosa (Inter), Diego Coppola (Hellas  Verona), Daniele Ghilardi (Hellas Verona), Gabriele Mulazzi (Juventus), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Riccardo Turicchia (Juventus), Mattia Zanotti (Inter);

Midfielders: Cesare Casadei (Inter), Giovanni Fabbian (Inter), Giacomo Faticanti (Roma), Jacopo Fazzini  (Empoli), Samuele Giovane  (Atalanta), Fabio Miretti (Juventus), Filippo Terracciano (Hellas Verona);

Forwards: Giuseppe Ambrosino Di Bruttopilo (Napoli), Tommaso Baldanzi (Empoli), Wilfred Gnonto (Zurigo), Marco Nasti (Milan).

Staff: Head of the delegation Gianfranco Serioli; Head coach Carmine Nunziata; Assistant head coach Emanuele Filippini; Fitness coach Vito Azzone; Goalkeeping coach Fabrizio Ferron; Match Analyst Marco Mannucci; Doctors Carmelo Papotto and Alessandro Carrozzo; Physiotherapists Giuseppe Galli and Fabrizio Casati; Nutritionist Alessio Colli; Observer Claudio Coppi; Press officer Giuseppe Ingrati; Secretary Aldo Blessich; Kit man Giovanni Pompeano; Tutor Stefano Presciutti.