Four months on from their excellent win against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin, the Under-21 National Team are ready to resume their Euro qualifying journey: at 18:30 CET on Friday 25 March, they’ll face Montenegro at the Gradski Stadion in Podgorica; then, at 17:30 CEST on Tuesday 29 March, they’ll take on Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Stadio Nereo Rocco in Trieste.

On the first day of training at the Tirrenia Olympic Training Centre, Head Coach Paolo Nicolato encountered a motivated side with five new faces ready to impress. However, things won’t be easy: “Two difficult matches await. We’ll be facing teams who play with great intensity and have players who play a lot in their respective divisions. A discussion on the use of young players needs to happen: Italian football is in a worrying situation in this regard, with youngsters for the senior side needed. If it continues, we’ll have to delve into Serie C or find players of Italian descent.”

Many players aren’t getting game time on a consistent basis, and Nicolato is worried: “Where possible, I’ll take into account how many minutes the players have played when making my selections, but in some areas, like in attack, some have hardly featured. I’m concerned and hope nobody gets hurt.”

On the contrary, Nicolò Cambiaghi, who is one of the new faces, is enjoying plenty of game time, scoring in his last three Pordenone outings: “He’s displayed consistency,” continued the Head Coach. “He’s doing well physically and on a par with the others, even if he plays in Serie B for a team that are struggling. There’s a revolving door here: he’s someone who has entered and can now try to take his chance. He has the characteristics of a winger, and I’m happy to have him in the group.

Nicolato then returned to the topic of the Azzurrini’s next two games: “They’ll be two tough fixtures against similar sides in terms of the systems they play. Montenegro are aggressive at home. We’ll need to be attentive. While they lost to Sweden, the result didn’t reflect the game.” From a tactical perspective, there won’t be any major changes, with 4-3-3 the preferred route: “I’d like to continue going down the same path in a determined fashion; we’ve made great strides forward. The idea is to stick with what we’re doing. Changing your cards can be counterproductive.”

Italy, who are second in Group F and sit one point behind the leaders Sweden (but with two games in hand), completed a double session today. The same is in store tomorrow, while Wednesday will see the team train in the morning before departing for Podgorica.

The Under-21s are set to play in Trieste for the fifth time in their history. Having won two and drawn two (including the 0-0 friendly draw with Austria on 21 March 2019), they’re yet to taste defeat there. 

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Cremonese), Alessandro Plizzari (Lecce), Stefano Turati (Reggina);

Defenders: Raoul Bellanova (Cagliari), Antonio Candela (Cesena), Simone Canestrelli (Crotone), Matteo Lovato (Cagliari), Caleb Okoli (Cremonese), Fabiano Parisi (Empoli), Lorenzo Pirola (Monza), Giacomo Quagliata (Heracles Almelo), Mattia Viti (Empoli);

Midfielders: Edoardo Bove (Roma), Alessandro Cortinovis (Reggina), Salvatore Esposito (Spal), Nicolò Fagioli (Cremonese), Manolo Portanova (Genoa), Samuele Ricci (Torino), Nicolò Rovella (Genoa), Iyenoma Destiny Udogie (Udinese);

Forwards: Nicolò Cambiaghi (Pordenone), Matteo Cancellieri (Hellas Verona), Lorenzo Colombo (Spal), Gianluca Gaetano (Cremonese), Lorenzo Lucca (Pisa), Emanuel Vignato (Bologna), Kelvin K. Yeboah (Genoa).

Schedule

Sunday 20 March 2022

By 23:00 – Meet-up at the Tirrenia Olympic Training Centre

Molecular SARS-CoV-2 (Covid 19) Tests

Monday 21 March 2022

10:30                Training (behind closed doors)

13:15                Lunch

13:45                Press conference (Head Coach Nicolato) via Zoom (RAI in attendance)

16:30                Training (open to RAI)

 

Tuesday 22 March 2022

10:30                Training (open to RAI)

13:45                Press conference (two players) via Zoom (RAI in attendance)

16:30                Training (behind closed doors)

 

Wednesday 23 March 2022

10:30                Training (open to RAI)

17:00                Charter flight from Pisa to Podgorica

                         and subsequent transfer to the Hilton Podgorrica

Thursday 24 March 2022

10:30                Training (access for first 15 minutes)

13.45                Press conference (Nicolato) via Zoom (RAI in attendance)

18.30                Trip to the Gradski Stadion in Podgorica

 

Friday 25 March 2022

10:30                 Training (behind closed doors)

12:55                 Technical meeting

18:30                 Gradski Stadion in Podgorica: MONTENEGRO VS. ITALIA

                          followed by press conference via Zoom

22:30                 Charter flight from Podgorica to Trieste

                          and transfer to the Falisia Resort Portopiccolo – Sistiana

 

Saturday 26 March 2022

13:15                 Lunch

16:30                 Training (behind closed doors)

Sunday 27 March 2022

10:30                 Training (open to RAI)

13:45                 Press conference (player) via Zoom (RAI in attendance)

16:30                 Training (behind closed doors)

Monday 28 March 2022

08:30                Breakfast

10:30                Training (behind closed doors)

13:45                Press conference (Nicolato) via Zoom (Rai in attendance)

17:30                Trip to the Stadio Nereo Rocco in Trieste

Tuesday 29 March 2022

10:30                Training (behind closed doors)

12:40                Technical meeting

17:30                Stadio Nereo Rocco in Trieste: ITALY VS. BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

                        followed by press conference and return to respective clubs