Italy deservedly beat hosts Israel (1-0) and are now in a much better position to qualify for the next round. Bernado Corradi went with the same 4-3-1-2 system that he used in the first game against Germany but made two personnel changes: Mattia Malaspina played at left back in place of Filippo Saiani, while Dormund’s Vincenzo Onofrietti replaced Luca Di Maggio in midfield.

It could have been a more comfortable scoreline, though, as the Azzurrini twice hit the post in the first half and had a host of unconverted chances. They needed a win to keep their qualification hopes alive and Francesco Pio Esposito scored the winner in the 74th minute. Italy will take on Luxembourg on Sunday, who were beaten 3-0 by Germany today. A automatically win would grant Italy a spot in the quarter-finals, should Germany win or draw against Israel in the other game.

Israel 0-1 Italy

Marcatore: 75’ Esposito

ISRAEL (4-2-3-1) : Melika; Dezent, Elgaby (C), Levi R., Egbaria; Levi Y., Yehoshuha (73' Shaban); Yusopove (88' Sheichy), Kretzo (73' Yitzhak), Shabo (54' Mashraki); Zoabi. A disp.: Mashiach (GK), Yesilirmark, Ben Harosh, Distelfeld, Turgeman. All. Brummer

ITALY (4-3-1-2) : Magro; Domanico, Mane, Chiarodia, Malaspina; Ciammaglichella (54' Parravicini), Lipani (C), Onofrietti (54' Di Maggio); Bruno (83' Quieto); Bolzan (83' Delle Monache), Vacca (70' Esposito). A disp.: Borriello (GK), Serra, Saiani, D'Aprile. All. Corradi.

Referee: Christian-Petru Ciochirca  (AUT); Linesmen: Maximilian Weiss  (AUT) and Luka Pušic (CRO); Fourth Official: Dario Bel (CRO)

Bookings: Bruno, Dezent 

Risults and standings in Gruppo A

Monday 16 May

ITALY 2-3 Germania

Israel 3-0 Luxembourg

Thursday 19 May

Germany 3-0 Luxembourg

Israel 0-1 ITALY

Standings. Germany 6 pt, Israel and Italy 3, Luxembourg 0

Sunday 22 May

Luxembourg vs. ITALY, Ramat Gan Municipal Stadium in Ramat Gan, 19:00 CEST

Germany vs. Israel, Lod Municipal Stadium in Lod, 19:00 CEST 

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Federico Magro (Lazio), Francesco Borriello (Parma);

Defenders: Fabio Christian Chiarodia (Werder Bremen), Giovanni D’Aprile (Torino), Saverio Domanico (Juventus), Mattia Malaspina (Milan), Filippo Mane (Dortmund), Filippo Saiani (Spal), Nicolò Serra (Torino);

Midfielders: Kevin Bruno (Sassuolo), Aaron Ciammaglichella (Torino), Luca Di Maggio (Inter), Luca Lipani (Genoa), Vincenzo Onofrietti (Dortmund), Fabio Parravicini (Spal), Daniele Quieto (Inter);

Attackers: Alessandro Bolzan (Roma), Marco Delle Monache (Pescara), Alessio Vacca (Juventus), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter).