Italy lost 1-0 against Norway and costing Nicolato's team their place in the tournament; progressing from Group D are France (in first place) and Switzerland (on goal difference). After a series of missed chances from Gnonto and his team-mates in the first half, Botheim broke the deadlock in the second half. France beat Switzerland but goal difference means the Swiss progress over Italy and Norway, who by virtue of the result in Romania and Georgia will miss out on the Olympics for the fourth edition in a row.

In the game at the Cluj Arena, Italy lined up with the usual 3-5-2 formation but with Ricci returning to the midfield in place of Bove (who started against Switzerland) and with Lovato replacing Pirola in the back three. In attack, on the other hand, the Pellegri-Gnonto started the game. Bellanova and Gnonto linked up for the first chance of the match in the 12th minute: the Inter player's cross from the right-hand lane was headed by the Leeds striker, but the effort went wide. Shortly afterwards Pellegri had a go - again with a header - this time from Rovella's cross. Again, however, the shot was inaccurate and Norway survived. In the 22nd minute there was another chance for Gnonto, but the Norweigan defence managed to snuff out the chance. Just before the half-hour mark, however, Rovella was decisive in defence: Jatta found Ceide but the Azzurri midfielder managed to intervene.

 

It was Nicolato's eleven, however, who created the best chances: on 33 minutes it was Ricci who came close to finding the opener - his right-footed volley was miraculously blocked by Daland - and on 40 minutes Tonali's header from Bellanova's cross went just wide. The double chance at the end of the first half came through Gnonto and Tonali, but the Scandinavian defence were on hand again and the game was goalless at the break.

At the start of the second half, the first chance fell to Norway: Evjen's left-footed shot was venomous, but Carnesecchi was able to turn it around the post for a corner. In the 58th minute, Gnonto fired into the side netting in one of the Azzurri's most promising chances. Smerud's team, however, grew in confidence as time went on, and soon capitalised on their spell of pressure: Nusa's low cross was saved by Carnesecchi but it fell to Botheim who made no mistake with a slightly scuffed finish. Norway's goal froze the Azzurrini, because in spite of France who put the game to bed against Switzerland, as it stood, goal difference would allow the Swiss to reach the quarter-finals and not Italy, who needed a goal. Cambiaghi came close in the 73rd minute, found by Tonali, but again the danger was cleared; and then, three minutes later, he put it over from another promising position. In the 82nd minute, however, it was the crossbar that denied Italy the equaliser, who failed to bury it off a corner from point-blank range. Three minutes later Carnesecchi saved wonderfully from Botheim and kept the Scandinavians' lead to just one. In the final minutes, the Azzurrini lost their shape and at the final whistle, the result remained 1-0 to Norway. For the first time since the group phase existed in the final phase of the Under 21s European Championships (2000), Italy lost at least two matches out of the three in the group.

 

 

 

MATCH DETAILS ITALY 0-1 NORWAY

 

GOALSCORERS: 65’ Botheim (N)

 

ITALY (3-5-2): Carnesecchi; Okoli, Lovato, Scalvini (77’ Cancellieri); Bellanova (71’ Cambiaso), Rovella (71’ Miretti), Tonali, Ricci, Parisi; Pellegri (63’ Colombo), Gnonto (62’ Cambiaghi). Coach: Paolo Nicolato.

 

NORWAY (4-4-2): Klaesson; Sebulonsen, Heggheim, Daland, Wolfe; Evjen (58’ Nusa), Kitolano, Hove, Ceïde (70’ Sahraoui); Jatta (58’ Bobb), Botheim. Coach: Leif Gunnar Smerud.  

 

 

REFEREE: Lambrechts (BEL)

 

ASSISTANTS: de Weirdt (BEL), Monteny (BEL), IV Gishamer (AUT)

 

CARDS: Evjen (N), Ricci (I), Cancellieri (I) booked

 

Fixtures, results and standings of Group D

 

First matchday (22 June)

Norway 1-2 Switzerland

France 2-1 ITALY

 

Second matchday (25 June)

Switzerland 2-3 ITALY 

Norway 0-1 France

 

Third matchday (28 June)

Switzerland 1-4 France

ITALY 0-1 Norway

 

Standings: France 9, Switzerland 3, Italy 3, Norway 3