Italy U21 perhaps needed a subpar first half to then put things to rights in the second. Goalless at the break, Baldini’s boys turned on the jets in the second 45 minutes. The entry of Pescara midfielder Dagasso changed the tale of the game, as he opened the scoring in the 58th minute and then, four minutes later, won the ball back to send Bartesaghi on his way to then play in Camarda for Italy’s second. Then, he set up Camarda’s brace. 15 minutes from full-time, Seydou Fini got on the scoresheet. Vardanyan then pulled one back, but Ekhator restored the four-goal lead and it ended 5-1. This result keeps Italy close to the top of the group, second only on goal difference to Poland, who thrashed Sweden 6-0. The decider is in Sczeszin on 14 November.

POST-MATCH REACTION. “The first half looked like Thursday, when we played with no desire. But, in the second half, having made some changes, we had the right mindset, and it went well. Luckily so, because there are no easy games anymore. You can always slip up; football is full of banana skins. We threw a half of football away, but it can happen. The main thing is that we got the result. We were clinical in the second half,” Baldini said after the game. “The next game will be easier from a mental standpoint, because the boys know it’s a must-win game. They won’t have this same approach. My changes? I don’t like compliments, because they are like sleeping pills. You take them, and then you switch off. I like to stay awake. In this sport, success is the final result.”

Matteo Dagasso: “I know Baldini well. He won’t be pleased with the first half, but we did well to go on and win it. What did he say in the dressing room? He always hits the right note. He calmly told us to stay in the game and keep playing. The second half went well. We scored plenty of goals, and we need to keep working.”

ITALY 5-1 ARMENIA (ht 0-0)

ITALY (4-3-3): Palmisani; Palestra (76’ Fortini), Marianucci (45’ Guarino), Mane, Bartesaghi; Pisilli, Lipani, Ndour (45’ Dagasso); Cherubini (72’ Fini), Camarda 72’ Ekhator), Koleosho. Subs.: Mascardi, Idrissi, Faticanti, Berti.Coach Baldini

ARMENIA (4-4-2): Matinyan; Tarloyan, Manukyan, A. Hakobyan, Bandikian; K. Hovhannisyan (68’ Askaryan), N. Hovhannisyan (68’ Afyan), Sargsyan (dal 75’ Ayvazyan), D. Hakobyan (68’ Vardanyan); M. Hakobyan, Eloyan (56’ Garibyan). Subs.: Ghazaryan, Avetisyan, Sukiasyan, Tsarukya. Coach: Guylbudaghyants

Referee: Gal Levi (Israel); Assistants: Yossi Babayoff (Israel), Lioz Edi (Israel); Fourth official: Nael Odeh (Israel)

Goals: 58’ Dagasso (I), 62’ and 71’ Camarda (I), 75’ Fini (I), 77’ Vardanyan (A), 92’ Ekhator (I)

Notes: 25’ Ndour (I) missed penalty; Sargsyan (A), M. Hakobyan (A), Marianucci (I) booked; Fortini (I) sent off for two yellows (83’ and 85’)