More Elite League fixtures await the Under-20 National Team. After their 1-1 draw against Portugal in Frosinone last month – a result that left a bitter taste in the mouth after a dominant display from the Azzurrini, Alberto Bollini has called up 25 players (14 born in 2001, eleven in 2002) for the team’s upcoming clashes against the Czech Republic and Romania. The first match will be played at 14:40 CET on Thursday 11 November at the Stadio Tonino Benelli in Pesaro, while the second will take place at 14:00 CET on Monday 15 November at the Stadio Enzo Ricci in Sassuolo.

The Azzurrini have played three games in the tournament so far: after beating Poland 2-0 away from home, they drew 1-1 with both England (in Chesterfield) and, as previously mentioned, Portugal (in Frosinine), meaning they currently occupy fourth place in the standings alongside a Polish side who, however, have played a game more.

Squad list

Goalkeepers. Ludovico Gelmi (Feralpi Salo’), Samuel Pizzignacco (Vicenza), Giovanni Garofani (Juventus);

Defenders. Tommaso Barbieri (Juventus), Edoardo Pierozzi (Alessandria), Nicolò Armini (Piacenza), Andrea Papetti (Brescia), Christian Dalle Mura (Cremonese), Mattia Viti (Empoli), Diego Stramaccioni (Juventus), Federico Bonini (Gubbio);

Midfielders. Edoardo Bove (Roma), Emmanuel Gyabuaa (Perugia), Giuseppe Leone (Juventus), Alessandro Bianco (Fiorentina), Alessandro Cortinovis (Reggina), Franco Daryl Tongya Heubang (Olympique Marsiglia), Tommaso Pantaleo Milanese (Alessandria);

Forwards. Gaetano Pio Oristanio (Volendam), Gianmarco Cangiano (Bologna), Giuseppe Di Serio (Benevento), Nikola Sekulov (Juventus), Daniel Maldini (Milan), Luca Moro (Catania), Edoardo Vergani (Salernitana).

Staff. Head Coach: Alberto Bollini; Delegation Head: Evaristo Beccalossi; Secretary: Giulio Massi; Assistant Coach: Enrico Battisti; Fitness Coach: Marco Montini; Goalkeeping Coach: Graziano Vinti; Match Analyst: Francesco Donzella; Nutritionist: Cristian Petri; Doctors: Emanuele Fabrizi, Matteo Vitali and Luca Labianca. Physiotherapists: Tommaso Cannata and Andrea Cantera. 

Results and standings

2 September

Poland 0-2 Italy

Romania 2-1 Portugal

Czech Republic 0-2 Germany

6 September

Germany 1-1 Norway

England 6-1 Romania

7 September

Portugal 0-0 Poland

7 October

England 1-1 Italy

Portugal 1-2 Norway

Romania 2-1 Czech Republic

Poland 0-0 Germany

11 October

Czech Republic 0-5 England; Germany 4-0 Romania; Norway 1-5 Poland;

12 October

Italy 1-1 Portugal

Standings: Germany 8 pts, England 7, Romania 6, Poland and Italy 5, Norway 4, Portugal 2, Czech Republic 0