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The Under-21 national team, coached by Silvio Baldini, continues training ahead of the European Championship qualifiers against Montenegro and North Macedonia, scheduled for Friday, 5 September at 18:15 CEST at the Stadio Alberto Picco in La Spezia, and Tuesday, 9 September at 18:15 CEST at the Petar Miloševski stadium in Bitola.

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PISILLI'S THOUGHTS.
In the afternoon, Niccolò Pisilli spoke to the press. With three caps and one goal, he is already one of the veterans of the group. “There have been many changes,” highlighted the 2004-born Roma midfielder, “because only a few of us are still here from the last European Championship (myself, Koleosho, and Ndour), but thanks to the journeys we’ve all been on in the youth national teams, we all know each other a little. There’s a great energy, and we’re proud to be here.” Pisilli also retraced his journey in the Azzurrini shirt: “Each national team is different: the more you grow, the more the standard increases. I started with the Under-18s (Italy vs. Albania 1-0 on 12 August 2021), and being able to play for Italy is an honour and a huge source of pride.” Now the focus is on the upcoming games against Montenegro and North Macedonia. “They will be tough matches, physical to be played at maximum intensity. We must approach them with the right humility and drive to do well.” He also commented on the new Under-21 coach, Silvio Baldini: “I’m happy to have a coach like him.” The Azzurri midfielder looks ahead with ambition, not only on the pitch: “I hope to make some progress with my studies this year (Communication Sciences), because I know I have all the time I need, but I admit that sometimes I can be a bit lazy.” Perhaps that is true off the pitch, but he’s certainly not lazy when it comes to football as he heads into the European Championship with determination…  and is already dreaming of the Olympics.

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BUFFON’S VISIT
Yesterday, the Olympic Training Centre in Tirrenia welcomed a special guest, Gianluigi Buffon, head of the senior national team delegation, who, together with organisational secretary Mauro Vladovich, visited the Under-21 squad led by the new coach Silvio Baldini. After lunch, the 2006 World Cup champion gathered staff and players for a symbolic speech: “You are here because we expect you in the senior team,” highlighted the record-holder for appearances with the Azzurri (176). “We know you have something special. You are being coached by a great technician, and the Federation, led by the president, believes in you: there is a European Championship to win, with the hope of returning to the Olympics.”

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NDOUR LIVE ON VIVO AZZURRO TV
Reflecting on this atmosphere of trust and responsibility, Fiorentina midfielder Cher Ndour, born in 2004, spoke to Vivo Azzurro TV. With 21 appearances and two goals for the Under-21s, he is the most experienced player in the squad, and his role as a role model is clear in his words: “We feel a new atmosphere, but with the same enthusiasm as in past years. We are a strong group, and many of us already know each other well.” He then shared a personal anecdote: “I feel like a positive role model for my teammates, just as Bove and Pirola were for me when I arrived.” Ndour hasn’t forgotten the disappointment of the last European Championship: “We were eliminated undeservedly for the team we were.” Finally, a look to the future: “It would be great to qualify for the Olympics, also because Italy has been absent for a while. Reaching them would mean we played well in the Euros.”

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Diego Mascardi (Spezia), Edoardo Motta (Reggiana), Lapo Nava (Cremonese);

Defenders: Davide Bartesaghi (Milan), Fabio Chiarodia (Borussia M’gladbach), Costantino Favasuli (Catanzaro), Riyad Idrissi (Cagliari), Filippo Mane (Borussia Dortmund), Luca Marianucci (Napoli), Brando Moruzzi (Empoli), Marco Palestra (Cagliari);

Midfielders: Lorenzo Amatucci (Las Palmas), Tommaso Berti (Cesena), Matteo Dagasso (Pescara), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Cher Ndour (Fiorentina), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma);

Forwards: Luigi Cherubini (Sampdoria), Seydou Fini (Genoa), Luca Koleosho (Espanyol), Simone Pafundi (Sampdoria), Antonio Raimondo (Frosinone), Lorenzo Venturino (Genoa), Jeff Ekhator (Genoa).

SCHEDULE

Wednesday 3 September
16.30 CEST:  Online Press Conference / Player
17.30 CEST: Training*

Thursday 4 September
16.30 CEST: Online Press Conference / Coach + 1 Player
17.30 CEST: Training*
Evening: Transfer from Tirrenia to La Spezia

Friday 5 September
18.15 CEST: ITALIA VS. MONTENEGRO (Euro Qualifier, match 1), Stadio “Alberto Picco” – La Spezia
Next match – Return to CPO Tirrenia

Saturday 6 September
17.30 CEST: Training**

Sunday 7 September
10.30 CEST: Training**
16.15 CEST: Transfer Tirrenia – Bitola

Monday 8 September
tbc: Online Press Conference / Coach + 1 Player
tbc: Training* / Ohrid

Tuesday 9 September
18.15 CEST: N. MACEDONIA VS. ITALIA (Euro Qualifier, Match 2), Miloshevski Stadium – Bitola
Next match- Return to Italy (Milano / Roma)

*Open for the first 15' / **closed