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The decisive moment is drawing ever closer. The Italy Under-21s are hard at work at the CPO in Tirrenia as they prepare for their final two qualifiers for next summer’s European Championship finals in Albania and Serbia. Having met up on Monday, the Azzurrini will depart for Yerevan, the Armenian capital, on September 30 ahead of their match on October 1 (18:30, live on Rai 2). From there, they will travel to Pescara for a do-or-die showdown with Poland at the Adriatico on Monday 5 (18:15, Rai 2).
THE FRIENDLY AGAINST EMPOLI. Italy also got some valuable match practice under their belts in Tirrenia today, cruising to a 15-0 friendly win over Empoli Primavera. Baldini lined the Azzurrini up in their familiar 4-3-3 and was given plenty of positive signs by his players. Cichella opened the scoring in the 14th minute from Berti’s assist, before Berti doubled the lead himself in the 29th with an individual effort. Camarda made it 3-0 three minutes later, converting a pass from Liberali, who had come on for Berti on the half-hour mark. Liberali then provided his second assist in under ten minutes as Cichella struck again in the 40th minute. Baldini rotated his side after the break, handing minutes to those who had remained on the bench in the opening 45 minutes. Lesiewicz’s own goal made it 5-0 three minutes into the second half, before Faticanti added a sixth in the 55th after Italy regained possession high up the pitch. Bartesaghi and Favasuli, both introduced after the interval, then got on the scoresheet with individual efforts in the 65th and 69th minutes. From that point on, the goals kept coming. Fini struck in the 75th minute, Cisse scored twice in quick succession (78’, 80’), Calvani added a brace (83’, 86’), Faticanti found the net again in the 88th minute and Cisse completed his hat-trick a minute later to seal the 15-0 final score.
THE CAPTAIN’S VIEW. “We’re a group that’s ready to take responsibility,” said captain Luca Lipani. “We know our own strengths, we want to enjoy ourselves and we can’t wait to get out on the pitch for these qualifiers.” The focus, for now, is firmly on Armenia before attention turns to Poland. “In Yerevan, we’ll come up against a physical, difficult side. We’ll need to stay switched on at all times because every game at international level is demanding and there can be pitfalls around every corner.” Lipani, who has made four appearances for Sassuolo so far this season and made his senior Italy debut alongside Baldini in June, added: “We’re feeling good. This is a tight-knit group and we were delighted to be back together. We’re working hard to make sure we’re ready. “We’re not feeling any excessive pressure. What we do have is a real desire to show what we can do and make the most of all our qualities. We’re pushing ourselves to produce a complete performance. We know we’re young and that there’s still plenty for us to work on.”
