A month ago, Matteo Dagasso was the standout player in Italy’s match against Armenia in Cremona. Everyone expected a rout against the side sitting bottom of the group, but instead Italy struggled to break through, with the match goalless at the break. At that point, Baldini brought on the Pescara-born youngster, who repaid the coach – who had given him his debut in Serie C a year earlier – with the goal that opened the scoring, the recovery that allowed Bartesaghi to set up Camarda to make it 2-0, and finally the assist to the same Lecce forward for the third. One might say game, set, match, as in tennis… Now, with Ndour unavailable, Dagasso is likely to start in Friday’s big clash in Poland, something which the Azzurrini coach confirmed yesterday in his press conference.

DAGASSO SPEAKS. He describes himself as a mezzala and takes inspiration from Modric, but under Zeman first and Baldini later, he has learned to interpret the role in a modern way: part attacking runner, part trequartista, and even transforming into a full-back at times, as he did in Cremona. He admits that a year ago he never imagined being in this position: “Honestly, no. A year ago, I was starting pre-season with Pescara in Serie C, facing a lot of difficulties. Then came that incredible run in the league [up to the play-off victory and promotion to Serie B] and a call-up to the Under-21s.” Both milestones came under the same coach, Silvio Baldini: “Here I reunited with the same person I had played under at Pescara. The coach has his own ideas, and he’s brought them to the Under-21s as well. He cares a lot about a player’s lifestyle, and it’s a pleasure to work with him and with so many of the staff who followed him here.” When asked the secret behind this Under-21 team, Dagasso had no doubts: “The fact that we get on so well together, that we spend a lot of time together, both on and off the pitch.” It’s inevitable that comparisons will be made with another Pescara-born player who once played for the Under-21s before going on to win Euro 2020, Marco Verratti: “I was lucky enough to meet him; he came to the training ground to say hello. He’s a symbol and an idol for young players who play football in Pescara.”

PALMISANI’S TURN. Another member of the Azzurri squad in training at the Olympic Training Centre in Tirrenia and enjoying a starring role is Lorenzo Palmisani, to whom Baldini entrusted the keys to the Italian goal in the last two matches. Yesterday, he received yet another recognition from his club, Frosinone, who extended his contract until 2029. It’s a well-deserved reward for a player who was born in Alatri (province of Frosinone) and developed at Frosinone, returning there this year after loan spells with Olbia and Lucchese. “For me, this is a wonderful moment. I’m experiencing so many emotions that make up for all the sacrifices I’ve made over the years. Being here is a real source of pride, and I’m happy to be able to share it with one of my Frosinone teammates, Gabriele Calvani – he deserves it.”

GOALKEEPERS AND POLAND. Palmisani is currently competing for a starting spot with the other two goalkeepers, Edoardo Motta and Diego Mascardi, with whom he shares a room, following the coach’s system of pairing players by position. “With Baldini, we’re building a very strong group, and that helps us play well and stay united during matches. The goalkeepers here give each other advice so we can grow and improve together.” The match against Poland will be crucial: “We have two important games coming up, the first against Poland, which will probably be decisive for qualification. We’re focused on giving our best and will be ready. My goal is to qualify for the European Championship next year, do my best with Frosinone, and dream of something bigger.” Incidentally, Palmisani was part of the Italy side that beat Poland when the teams met in the U20 Elite League in 2023. That match, which was played at the Ceravolo in Catanzaro on 13 October, ended in a 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Terracciano, then at Verona. That squad also included Faticanti and Pisilli, who came on during the match, and Comuzzo, who remained on the bench; on the opposing side were Kozubal and Duda.

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Diego Mascardi (Spezia), Edoardo Motta (Reggiana), Lorenzo Palmisani (Frosinone).

Defenders: Davide Bartesaghi (Milan), Gabriele Calvani (Frosinone), Pietro Comuzzo (Fiorentina), Niccolò Fortini (Fiorentina), Gabriele Guarino (Empoli), Riyad Idrissi (Cagliari), Filippo Mane (Borussia Dortmund), Brando Moruzzi (Empoli), Marco Palestra (Cagliari).

Midfielders: Tommaso Berti (Cesena), Matteo Dagasso (Pescara), Giacomo Faticanti (Juventus), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Kevin Zeroli (Monza).

Forwards: Francesco Camarda (Lecce), Alphadjo Cisse (Catanzaro 1929), Luigi Cherubini (Sampdoria), Jeff Ekhator (Genoa), Seydou Fini (Genoa), Luca Koleosho (Espanyol), Dominic Vavassori (Atalanta).

UEFA U21 EURO QUALIFIERS – GROUP E (all times CET)

13 November, 17:00 – North Macedonia vs. Sweden (Bitola)
14 November, 12:00 – Armenia vs. Montenegro (Armavir)
14 November, 16:00 – Poland vs. ITALY (Szczecin)
18 November, 12:00 – Armenia vs. Sweden (Armavir)
18 November, 17:00 – North Macedonia vs. Poland (Bitola)
18 November, 18:30 – Montenegro vs. ITALY (Nikšić)

Table: Poland 12 pts, ITALY 12, Montenegro 6, Sweden 3, North Macedonia 3, Armenia 0.