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The first of the two scheduled friendlies between the Italy Under-16 National Team and their Spanish counterparts ended 1-1 at the Federal Technical Centre.
After Roma forward Enzo Diofebo hit the post (19’), Italy fell behind when Atlético Madrid defender Iván Castellanos Pastor converted a penalty (54’). AC Milan striker Leonardo Rossini, on as a substitute, then struck the woodwork twice (74’, 89’), before Roma playmaker Mattia Pica levelled from the spot in the second minute of stoppage time (90’+2).
Watching from the stands were Men’s Youth National Teams Coordinator Maurizio Viscidi, Deputy Coordinator Daniele Zoratto and Ciro Immobile, Head of Delegation for the Italy Under-16 National Team. They were joined by Andrea Soncin, Head Coach of the Senior Women’s National Team, and several members of the Italy Under-21 National Team staff.
“I think a draw was the right result because it was an even game,” said Giovanni Costantino. “We played well and matched a very strong side, building on the positive performances against England. That continuity is the most important thing.”
The Azzurrini will return to action at the Federal Technical Centre on Thursday for the second and final friendly against Spain (11:00 CEST, live on Vivo Azzurro TV). “We will definitely make some changes because we want to give everyone an opportunity and allow each player to show what they can do,” the head coach continued. “The players who came on today showed they are every bit as capable as those who started, so there will certainly be some rotation. As we did against England, we also hope to avoid any drop in mentality or intensity. The aim is not merely to have eleven quality players ready, but to broaden the pool of those capable of representing Italy.”
MATCH. Italy lined up in their customary 4-3-1-2, the hallmark of the youth national teams: Bondone in goal; captain Danza, Allara, Appiah Boateng and Chieffallo in defence; Musah, Vaccarella and Ebagua in midfield; and Vitali in the number ten role behind the front two of Diofebo and Sassetti.
Spain responded with a 4-3-3: Pablo Díaz in goal; Poyatos, captain Castellanos, Mosquera, Bernal and Pau Sarría in defence; Bruno Fernández and Tiago Polo in midfield; and a front three of Asumu, Pedro Ibañez and Raheem.
Following an evenly contested opening, Spain created the first opportunity through Pedro Ibañez, but Bondone was alert and gathered the ball (10’). Italy responded when Diofebo curled a fine right-footed effort from the edge of the box beyond Pablo Díaz, only to see it strike the post (19’). Spain threatened again through Tiago Polo, whose right-footed attempt (22’) and subsequent left-footed effort (28’) were both kept out by the Italy goalkeeper. The Spanish number ten caused further concern with a dangerous left-footed effort through a crowd of players, which took a deflection off an Italy defender and went behind (37’). The 2012-born Raheem then cut inside from the left and sent a right-footed effort narrowly wide (41’). With the three minutes of first-half stoppage time almost up, the Azzurrini went close to taking the lead when Appiah Boateng met Vitali’s free-kick from the right, but his header drifted just wide of the left post.
Spain took the lead after the break when Bruno Fernández was held by Allara inside the box and captain Castellanos coolly converted the resulting penalty (54’). Buoyed by the opener, Spain nearly doubled their advantage soon afterwards, but Bondone tipped Bruno Fernández’s right-footed effort from 20 yards over the crossbar. Italy responded and struck the post when Rossini, who had replaced Diofebo, headed Buondonno’s corner against the upright (74’). The Azzurrini continued to push forward and hit the woodwork for a third time, once again through Rossini, whose header from another Buondonno corner came back off the post (89’). A minute later, Pol Sabadí brought down Rossini, Italy’s liveliest player, inside the area and the referee pointed to the spot. Pica stepped up and made no mistake with his right-footed penalty (90’+2), earning the Azzurrini a thoroughly deserved draw in the first of the two friendlies.
