Italy’s U15s put in an excellent performance to beat Serbia 3-1 at Novarello in the first of two friendlies being played over three days.

The Azzurrini went ahead early through Dundee United striker Lorenzo Sassetti in the sixth minute, before Serbia levelled with a penalty from Crvena Zvezda midfielder Strahinja Radivojevic (54’). Roma playmaker Mattia Pica then sealed the win with two late goals, scoring in the 77th minute and again from the spot four minutes later.

“I expected it to be a difficult match, because they are a good side, well organised and with strong individual players, explained head coach Enrico Battisti. “The boys did well to play the way I’d asked them to, dominating the game. It was also a good test for the debutants. Overall, there were plenty of positive signs.”

Italy will face Serbia once again in Granozzo con Monticello, in the province of Novara, on Thursday 21 May (11:00 CEST). “We will give opportunities to those who played less today or did not feature, because the aim of these matches is to allow the boys to gain experience at international level,” concluded the Azzurrini coach.

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Matteo Bondone (Genoa), Lorenzo Minicucci (Fiorentina);
Defenders: Lorenzo Allara (Juventus), Immanuel Altieri (Torino), Matthew Appiah Boateng (Parma), Niccolò Chieffallo (Roma), Mirko Danza (Atalanta), Davide De Vivo (Roma)*, Leopoldo Febbraro (Fiorentina), Fabrizio Pasotti (Cremonese)****;
Midfielders: Mattia Castiglione (Palermo), Sean Luis Ebagua (Venezia), Abdel Salam Musah (Fiorentina), Davide Tilli (Genoa), Marco Vaccarella (Juventus)***, Matteo Vives (Napoli);
Fowards: Mark Chidozie Cordopatri (Parma), Francesco Fattoruso (Napoli), Leonard Maria Lima Ramalho (Bologna), Mattia Pica (Roma), Lorenzo Sassetti (Dundee United), Lorenzo Vitali (Parma).

* Called up on 15 May to replace the unavailable Bruno Savarese (Roma).
** Called up on 16 May to replace the unavailable Giulio Cacucciolo (Torino).
*** Called up on 18 May to replace the unavailable Gabriel Tedesco (Inter).
**** Called up on 18 May to replace the unavailable Alessandro Gennaro Esposito (Juventus).

Staff – Head Coach: Enrico Battisti; Under 15 Supervisor: Antonio Rocca; Assistants: Antonio Candreva and Bruno Redolfi; Goalkeeping Coach: Graziano Vinti; Fitness Coach: Luca Bossi; Match Analyst: Andrea Loiacono; Doctors: Michele Carubia and Riccardo Pella; Physiotherapist: Marco Cerroni; Secretary: Francesco Lupi.