After the impressive victory in Empoli against North Macedonia, the Italy Under-21 team will now fly to Sweden. Following the final training session in Tirrenia this morning, the Azzurrini will travel to Boras this afternoon on a charter flight from Pisa to Gothenburg. There will be barely any time to settle in before they are back in action: on Tuesday, March 31, at 18:30 CEST, Baldini’s boys will play their last match of the March window and the eighth match in the qualifying group for Albania and Serbia 2027.

Current standings. Italy are second in the group, three points behind Poland, who will face Montenegro away tomorrow at 14:00 in a challenging game. The European qualifiers will then resume next October, when the Azzurrini play in Armenia (October 1), finishing at home against Poland (October 5), a game that could prove decisive, almost as weighted as a final. Baldini commented during the final press conference in Tirrenia, “For now, our focus is on Sweden. Choosing the lineup won’t be difficult because all the players are training well, and whoever I select, I’m confident it will be the right decision. Over these last few days, even after the North Macedonia match, everyone has done very well.”

Improvements. This Under-21 squad enjoys playing together on the field and have a strong bond. The coach noted, “They understand the importance of being a team when they play, of having a game plan, and being able to execute it. Since I first saw them last September, they’ve improved tremendously, also thanks to increased playing time in their respective clubs. I have no concerns because they have given everything they have over the last few days. I feel confident.” Day by day, in each training session, Baldini continues to push the Azzurrini’s growth. “Every day they must improve through training, and what ultimately matters is the match and the performance; you can only achieve victories through this. Compared to the start of our journey, they’ve grown in many areas: in defensive phases, for example, everyone tracks back, starting from the forwards. These players can all become top-level professionals. In midfield, we play more vertically, avoid backward passes, and aim to fill the box. With forward runs, we create danger, and we often score from our midfielders.”

Lineup and Tactical Options. Baldini isn’t revealing his full tactical plan, confirming ten out of eleven starters from the North Macedonia match. “The only change will be Fini starting in place of Cherubini, who has a minor back issue but will still be available during the game.” In terms of tactics, he added, “Sweden are physically strong, and we need to impose our game on them rather than the other way around. To achieve this, we’ll need momentum, intensity, and when we move the ball forward, we must stay compact to recover it quickly if lost. I expect them to play 4-4-2 in possession and 4-3-1-2 out of possession, possibly alternating with a 3-4-3 option.”

The World Cup. Several hundred kilometers from Boras, the senior national team will play the most important match, seeking World Cup qualification in Bosnia. “We are all part of the same family, and our thoughts, eyes, ears, and hearts cannot help but be with them.”