There are just two matches remaining in qualifying for Albania and Serbia 2027, the 26th edition of the U21 Euros, and Italy remain firmly in contention for a place at the finals. After eight matches, the Azzurrini sit second in the group, three points behind leaders Poland. Baldini's side have won seven of their eight games, with their only defeat coming in the reverse fixture, a 2-1 loss away to the Poles. Italy will return to action in October for the final two games of the campaign with the clear objective of topping the group and qualifying automatically. The group winners and the best overall runner-up will progress directly to the finals, while the remaining second-placed teams will be forced into the play-offs. On 1 October, the Azzurrini will travel to Yerevan to face bottom side Armenia before taking on Poland at the Stadio Adriatico in Pescara on Monday 5 October (18:15 CEST) in what promises to be the decisive head-to-head clash.

PESCARA AND PREVIOUS MEETINGS. Baldini will return to a place close to his footballing heart, as Pescara was his last club role before taking charge of the Italy Under-21s. His time there heavily influenced the club’s remarkable promotion from Serie C to Serie B.

For the Azzurrini, it will be their eighth match at the Stadio Adriatico, now named after Olympic hurdler Giovanni Cornacchia, who represented Italy in the 110 metres hurdles during the 1960s. Italy's last appearance at the home of the Delfino came four years ago, when Nicolato's side were beaten 2-0 by England in a friendly. That Italy team featured the likes of Scalvini, Cambiaso, Bove, Rovella, Miretti and Cambiaghi, while Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer starred for the Young Lions. The 2022 defeat remains the Azzurrini's only loss in Pescara. Italy have won five of their other six matches at the venue, with the remaining game ending in a draw back in 1977. That side featured Cabrini, Manfredonia, Di Bartolomei and the strike partnership of Bruno Giordano and Paolo Rossi, with Rossi scoring twice that game.