The U18s have arrived in Merano to begin their preparations for their friendly double-header against Austria: the games will take place on Thursday 21 March (15:00 CET kick-off, live stream on the FIGC website) and Sunday 24 March (11:00 CET). After hosting the U21s’ training camp in October, the comune in South Tyrol is now set to stage its first-ever national team match. The friendlies will be played at the Stadio Gianpiero Combi, where Vittorio Pozzo’s Italy trained ahead of their triumphant 1934 World Cup campaign.

“It’ll certainly be a great event for fans and an opportunity for our youth players to grow,” said Mayor Dario Dal Medico and Deputy Mayor Katharina Zeller during the gathering organised this morning at the town hall that involved delegations from the two teams. It was attended by the two coaches, Daniele Franceschini and Manfred Zsak, and the captains, Lorenzo Riccio and Phillip Verhounig, as well as sports councillor Nerio Zaccaria, who said he was proud of the excellent relations the local administration has established with the FIGC. The president of the Bolzano Autonomous Provincial Committee of the National Amateur League, Klaus Schuster, was also present.

Following their 1-0 friendly win over Slovakia last time out, the U18s are still unbeaten this season after three wins and two draws. For the two matches against the Austrians, Franceschini has named a 22-man squad consisting of players born in 2006 (with the exception of the 2007-born Matteo Cocchi).

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Pietro Leonardelli (Fiorentina), Francesco Saverio Plaia (Spezia);

Defenders: Adam Bakoune (Milan), Matteo Cocchi (Inter), Niccolò Fortini (Fiorentina), Giovanni Leoni (Sampdoria), Vittorio Magni (Milan), Matteo Giuseppe Plaia (Roma), Gabriel Ramaj (Atalanta), Lorenzo Tosto (Empoli);

Midfielders: Andrea Bonanomi (Atalanta), Francesco Crapisto (Juventus), Lapo Deli (Fiorentina), Gabriele Finocchiaro (Juventus), Leonardo Mendicino (Atalanta), Valdes Ngana (Juventus), Lorenzo Riccio (Atalanta), Filippo Scotti (Milan);

Forwards: Maat Daniel Caprini (Fiorentina), Seydou Fini (Standard Liegi), Federico Ragnoli Galli (Atalanta)*, Matteo Spinaccè (Inter).

*in place of the unavailable Riccardo Braschi (Fiorentina)*.

Staff – Head Coach: Daniele Franceschini; Assistant Coach: Enrico Battisti; Goalkeeping Coach: Stefano Baroncini; Fitness Coach: Roberto Ghielmetti; Match Analyst: Igor Graziani; Doctors: Alessandro Carducci and Lorenzo Sapegno; Physiotherapist: Alessandro Sferrella; Secretary: Guglielmo Cammino.