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After four days of intensive training at the CPO in Tirrenia, it's time for the Italy Under-21s to return to action. The Azzurrini will travel to France this afternoon on a charter flight from Pisa to Rennes before heading to Laval, where they will play the first of two friendlies scheduled for the November international window tomorrow at 6:30 PM CET (live on Rai 2). The second will take place on Monday 16 November, against Belgium in Livorno. Italy vs. France is a classic Under-21 fixture, and the head-to-head record could hardly be more evenly matched: 22 meetings, with seven wins apiece and eight draws. Italy has won away to France just once in normal time, a 1-0 victory at the Toulon Tournament in 2024. The Azzurrini's other triumph on French soil came on penalties and remains a cherished memory. In the semi-finals of the 1994 European Championship in Montpellier, Cesare Maldini's Italy prevailed 5-3 in the shootout after a goalless draw. Successful penalties from Panucci, Vieri, Berretta, Marcolin and Carbone sent Italy through to the final, where they beat Portugal, featuring Figo and Rui Costa, 1-0 thanks to a goal from Orlandini. It was the second of three consecutive European Under-21 titles, a record that remains unmatched.
BALDINI. Silvio Baldini has made no secret of his starting line-up. Palmisani will be in goal behind a back four featuring Mane and Bartesaghi at full-back, with Comuzzo and Chiarodia in central defence. Amatucci will anchor the midfield, flanked by Lipani and Dagasso, while Camarda will lead the attack alongside Fini and Cacciamani on the wings. "Everyone has trained well," the coach said at his press conference. "We have two matches in quick succession, with little recovery time. I'll decide whether to make lots of substitutions during the match (editor's note: unlimited substitutions will be allowed, but only across three stoppages) or whether to use one group of players in Laval and another against Belgium." The Tuscan coach's delight is clear when he talks about his players. "We're a family here. I think of people who work abroad and then come home to a warm welcome and a happy atmosphere. That's how I feel when I see these players. They're special because they know how to balance professionalism on the pitch with enjoying themselves off it. We have rules, but the most important one is to be happy. I want to see them joking and laughing. To me, they're a gift from God." Italy will be facing traditionally tough opposition in France. "France is a strong team, but we're not concerned about who we’re up against. What matters is playing with freedom and expressing ourselves the way we want to. When we have the ball, we need to play our own game. If they're better than us and stop us from doing that, we also know how to dig in, win the ball back and stay compact." Returning to his players, Baldini added: "The way they respond makes me feel I'm doing something worthwhile by helping them, not just with the 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1, but also in becoming better people. By giving something to them, I’m growing as well."
PALMISANI. Lorenzo Palmisani, who will start in goal and has been one of Frosinone's standout performers in Serie A, said: "It's a source of pride to be here with the Under-21s. When you start playing football, representing your country is always one of your goals. We've built a really strong bond within this group. I'm also surrounded by other top-quality goalkeepers who push me to improve, and that's our strength, same goes for the rest of the squad. Everyone here helps each other out." The Azzurrini goalkeeper also spoke about the similarities between Baldini and Alvini. "There definitely are some. Alvini, who I work with every day, constantly pushes me and gives me advice that I take onto the pitch. Baldini, meanwhile, is helping me a lot with areas where I struggle. I was dealing with some personal issues during the last training camp, but he helped me understand things I hadn't been able to see before and recognise positives I couldn't appreciate on my own."
SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Giovanni Daffara (Parma), Diego Mascardi (Torino), Lorenzo Palmisani (Frosinone), Massimo Pessina (Bologna);
Defenders: Davide Bartesaghi (Milan), Fabio Chiarodia (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Pietro Comuzzo (Torino), Eddy Kouadio (Monza), Emanuele Lulli (Roma), Filippo Mane (Borussia Dortmund), Brando Moruzzi (Avellino);
Midfielders: Lorenzo Amatucci (Deportivo La Coruña), Tommaso Berti (Cremonese), Matteo Dagasso (Venezia), Giacomo Faticanti (Avellino), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Mattia Mannini (Benevento), Kevin Zeroli (Südtirol);
Forwards: Alessio Cacciamani (Torino), Francesco Camarda (Milan), Luigi Cherubini (Benevento), Simone D’Uffizi (Ascoli), Jeff Ekhator (Juventus), Seydou Fini (Frosinone), Samuele Inacio (Borussia Dortmund).