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A crucial test awaits the Italy Under-16 team led by coach Manuel Pasqual, who tomorrow (3:00 PM, live on Vivo Azzurro TV) will face their Portuguese counterparts on Field 2, named after Enzo Bearzot, at the Coverciano Technical Center. This will be the first of two friendly matches scheduled over three days, the second taking place Thursday (11:00 AM, also live on Vivo Azzurro TV) marking the final double clash of 2025, designed to track the growth, identity, and ambitions of a squad shaped over recent months.
They have been preparing through a series of high-level friendlies: against England in August in Rome, a 2-1 win and a 2-1 loss; Spain in September at Las Rozas, a 1-0 defeat and a 2-1 victory; Wales U17 in October in Ferentino, a 1-1 draw and a 3-2 win; and Ukraine in November at Coverciano, two wins, 6-2 and 3-0.
The history between the Azzurrini and the Portuguese has been tightly contested. Overall, the teams have met 30 times at this level: 10 Italian wins, 11 Portuguese wins, and 9 draws. The first encounter took place on January 23, 1985, during the third matchday of Group 8 in the European qualifiers, when Giuseppe Luciano Lupi’s Italy defeated Portugal 4-0 in Olhão, with a brace from Marcello Porciatti (30’ and 37’) and goals from Maurizio Ganz (25’) and Pietro Tersigni (77’). The most recent meeting was on June 25 of this year: a 1-0 Italian victory in Amora, in the third and final day of the UEFA Development Tournament, secured in the 80th minute by Thomas Corigliano under the guidance of Marco Scarpa, now the Under-17 assistant coach.
The coach is especially focused on attitude: “Intensity and application must never be lacking. Beyond the result, I want the players to finish the game having given everything. During these gatherings, I’ve seen great willingness from the clubs toward us and a strong sense of belonging among the players, who come to the national team with a smile.”
Finally, on the opponent: “Portugal is technically skilled and very dangerous when they recover the ball and counterattack. We will need to be smart in managing possession.” Coverciano is ready: it’s time for another maturity test for the Under-16s.
MEDIA ACCREDITATION – For the Italy Under-16 friendlies against Portugal, media accreditation requests should be sent to a.paoli@figc.it. For all other requests, please contact r.poggetti@figc.it.
SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Umberto Costante (Inter), Tommaso Vischi (Monza);
Defenders: Mattia Barbone (Fiorentina), Lorenzo Damonte (Genoa), Lorenzo Dattilo (Roma), Alessandro Foroni (Inter), Alessandro Ghiotto (Juventus), Raphael Libero Mazzotta (Juventus), Alberto Samà (Juventus), Emanuele Pio Troiano (AC Milan);
Midfielders: Lorenzo Bernamonte (Fiorentina), Noah Blandina (Club Brugge), Filippo Castagnoli (Fiorentina), Francesco Olivieri (Empoli), Edoardo Rastello (Juventus), Abdou Samath Seye (AC Milan);
Forwards: Federico Croci (Fiorentina), Maximilian Donner (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Fortune Erhunmwun Egharevba (Hellas Verona), Michele Elena (Lazio), Giuseppe Pipitò (Juventus), Roberto Scaglione (Genoa).
Staff – Head Coach: Manuel Pasqual; Coordinator of National Youth Teams: Maurizio Viscidi; Goalkeeping Coordinator: Gaetano Petrelli; Assistant Coach: Matteo Barella; Goalkeeping coach: Stefano Baroncini; Fitness coach: Luca Coppari; Match analyst: Nicolò Tolin; Doctors: Valerio Andreozzi and Emanuele Fabrizi; Nutritionist: Filippo Maria Perricelli; Physiotherapist: Eugenio Zarcone; Press Office: Alessandro Paoli; Secretary: Fabio Ferappi.