Losing in this manner certainly hurts: the compliments and applause can only slightly mitigate the U19s’ disappointment right now. The Azzurrini have been eliminated but heads remain high, with the players fully aware of the great team they’ve shown themselves to be. Today, at the National Football Stadium in Belfast, the Under-19 National Team were knocked out in the European Championship semi-finals by Spain despite being the better team for long periods. The undeserved defeat arrived after a match where the Azzurrini were in control but failed to make the most of their chances. After a 0-0 draw in regulation time, Pol Fortuny’s goal in the 100th minute decided the showdown. For Lipani and teammates, the dream of replicating the triumph in Malta a year ago is over, and there’s regret at not having taken the opportunities that came their way.

GRAVINA. At the end of the match, FIGC President Gabriele Gravina highlighted the team’s excellent European Championship: “We’re proud of our Azzurrini. After the U17s’ triumph at continental level, Coach Corradi’s side performed excellently in this tournament and achieved the vital objective of qualifying for the next World Cup. This team contains lots of quality, and I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more about a lot of these lads.”

CORRADI. Bernardo Corradi echoed the President’s thoughts, saying the following: “We played well and created opportunities, and we would have deserved to go through. I’ve been in football a few years now, and it’s been common to play defensively against Spain, aiming to hit them on the counter. I think that starting from today, we can stop talking about that kind of match. I think we performed brilliantly, displaying intensity and our playing principles. I’m disappointed for the lads because their spirit of sacrifice and desire bordered on perfection. Sometimes, when you analyse competitions, you look at where you arrived without considering the journey you went on. I’ve told the lads that I’m proud of them. This evening, when their heads hit the pillow and the anger passes, they’ll be able to sleep peacefully and with pride at what they’ve done.” With the Euros now over for the Azzurrini, there’s now the U20 World Cup in Chile to look forward to next year: “The thing that makes me hopeful is the fact that we’ve found a very solid base on which we can build something important. Let’s not forget that our main objective was to qualify for the World Cup. That will be the prelude to the U21s and senior side, and I’m feeling really confident about the future,” concluded Corradi.

THE MATCH. Corradi selected the same team as he did against Northern Ireland, with Camarda partnering Pafundi up front. The Azzurrini took to the pitch in their now consolidated 4-3-1-2 formation, while José Lana’s Spain used 4-3-3 with Dani Rodriguez and Diao lining up either side of Iker Bravo in attack. With the teams looking to figure each other out at the start, Pafundi had the first real effort at goal in the 13th minute: the Azzurrini No.10 was fouled just over 25 yards out from goal and fired the resulting free-kick inches wide. Italy were the more proactive team and looking to keep possession. Lipani and Camarda combined, but the former couldn’t get the ball under control in the box and the opportunity went begging. Spain’s first shot arrived in the 31st minute, but Marin was in place to comfortably save Dani’s weak attempt. After a first half where Italy threatened on a couple of other occasions (there was a dangerous Camarda run down the left and a left-footed effort from Pafundi that flew over), the match remained goalless.

SECOND HALF. Italy looked to get on the front foot at the start of the second half, too. Five minutes after the restart, Bartesaghi intelligently picked out Zeroli, whose effort from around twelve yards out finished centimetres wide. Lana shook things up, bringing on Fortuny for Hernandez in midfield and replacing Diao (who had been nullified by Mannini) with Mella out wide. The changes had an impact as Spain applied a bit of pressure, even if they failed to create any chances. As for the Azzurrini, they looked lively on the break, with Di Maggio forcing Raul Jimenez into a diving stop. Corradi made his first substitutions shortly after the 70-minute mark: Lipani made way for Harder and Magni took the place of Ciammaglichella, with Mannini moving into midfield. Camarda’s match finished five minutes before the end: he hadn’t had any real goalscoring opportunities but had put in the hard work off the ball. He was replaced by Ebone. Italy were containing Spain with relative ease but couldn’t find the knockout blow in attack. The game went to extra time.

EXTRA TIME. Three minutes into extra time, a huge opportunity fell the way of Ebone: after Spain had given the ball away at the back, and with Raul Jimenez having momentarily left his goal unguarded, the Bologna striker let fly but saw his effort strike the outside of the post. Then, Spain took the lead through Pol Fortuny after some good build-up play down the left. With Italy on the hunt for an equaliser, the Spain goalscorer had another chance at the end of the first half, but Marin turned his shot behind for a corner. In the final 15 minutes, the Azzurrini launched one attack after another. Sia came on for Bartesaghi and created a chance for Zeroli, who was unable to add the finish. Zeroli also had the very last opportunity as he headed Harder’s cross narrowly over. It finished 1-0.

ITALY 0-1 SPAIN AET

Italy: Marin; Mannini (106’ Romano), Mane, Chiarodia, Bartesaghi (115’ Sia); Ciammaglichella (71’ Magni), Lipani (71’ Harder), Di Maggio (106’ Anghelè); Zeroli; Pafundi, Camarda (85’ Ebone). Unused substitutes: Magro, Pagnucco. Head Coach: Corradi

Spain: Raul Jimenez; Perea, Keddari, Gasiorowski, Julio Diaz; Belid (101’ Senhadji), Chema Andrés, Hernandez (56’ Mella); Dani Rodriguez (75’ Jesus Rodriguez), Iker Bravo, Diao (56’ Fortuny). Unsused substitutes: Gonzalez, M. Carvalho, Dani Diaz, Ramon, Munoz. Head Coach: José Lana

Goal: 100’ Fortuny (S)

Referee: Marian Barbu (ROU); Assistants: Mihai Marica (ROU) and Aleksandar Smiljanić (BIH); Fourth official: Luka Bilbija (BIH)

Note: Bookings for Italy’s Camarda, Lipani, Mannini and Romano and Spain’s Fortuny, Iker Bravo, Raul Jimenez and M. Carvalho.

 

UEFA EURO UNDER-19

Group A: Northern Ireland (hosts), Norway, Italy (holders), Ukraine
Group B: Denmark, Türkiye, France, Spain

MATCHDAY 1

Group A, Monday 15 July
Italy 2-1 Norway | Seaview Stadium, Belfast
Northern Ireland 0-0 Ukraine | Inver Park, Larne

Group B, Tuesday 16 July
Denmark 1-2 Spain | Inver Park, Larne
France 2-1 Türkiye | Seaview Stadium, Belfast

MATCHDAY 2

Group A, Thursday 18 July
Norway 0-0 Ukraine | Seaview Stadium, Belfast
Northern Ireland 0-3 Italy | Inver Park, Larne

Group B, Friday 19 July
Denmark 2-4 France | Inver Park, Larne
Türkiye 1-1 Spain | Seaview Stadium, Belfast

MATCHDAY 3

Group A, Sunday 21 July
Norway 2-0 Northern Ireland | Seaview Stadium, Belfast
Ukraine 3-2 Italy | Inver Park, Larne

Group B, Monday 22 July
Türkiye 3-3 Denmark | Seaview Stadium, Belfast
Spain 2-2 France | Inver Park, Larne

Table after Matchday 3
Group A: Italy 6, Ukraine 5, Norway 4, Northern Ireland 1
Group B: France 7, Spain 5, Türkiye 2, Denmark 1

WORLD CUP UNDER-20 PLAYOFF

Thursday 25 July
Norway vs. Türkiye, 17:30 CEST | Seaview Stadium, Belfast

SEMI-FINALS*

Thursday 25 July

S1: Italy 0-1 Spain
S2: France vs. Ukraine, 20:00 CEST | National Football Stadium a Windsor Park, Belfast

FINAL

Sunday 28 July
S1 winner vs. S2 winner, 20:00 CEST | National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, Belfast