After having hosted the Under-21 national team's training camp last October, ahead of the match against Norway played in Bolzano for European Championships qualifying, the city of Merano is now ready to take centre stage for a national team fixture.

TIRRENIA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 14: Maat Daniel Caprini of Italy U18 celebrates after scoring a goal during the International friendly match between Italy U18 and Slovakia U18 at Centro Tecnico di Preparazione Olimpica on February 14, 2024 in Tirrenia, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maat Daniel Caprini
TIRRENIA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 14: Maat Daniel Caprini of Italy U18 celebrates after scoring a goal during the International friendly match between Italy U18 and Slovakia U18 at Centro Tecnico di Preparazione Olimpica on February 14, 2024 in Tirrenia, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maat Daniel Caprini
TIRRENIA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 14: Maat Daniel Caprini of Italy U18 celebrates after scoring a goal during the International friendly match between Italy U18 and Slovakia U18 at Centro Tecnico di Preparazione Olimpica on February 14, 2024 in Tirrenia, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maat Daniel Caprini

On Thursday 21 (15:00 CET, live on the FIGC website) and Sunday 24 March (11:00 CET), the Under 18s will face Austria in a double friendly header in the stadium that was named in 1957 after former national team goalkeeper Gianpiero Combi. On this same pitch, Vittorio Pozzo's Italy, for whom Combi was captain, had prepared for the 1934 World Cup, which saw the Azzurri lift the first historic Rimet Cup to the skies.

Fresh from the 1-0 win against Slovakia in a friendly recently, the Under 18 national side are still unbeaten this season, having achieved three wins and two draws.