As I stated I’m the other thread, withe Olympics next year being an Under 24 tournament with three over aged players , teams could easily field what is an almost national team and/or mini World Cup team.
After Thursday's narrow but deserved win in Iceland, a win in Luxembourg today will guarantee the Azzurrini top spot in group 1 and qualification for next year's finals, the group stage of which will be in March and the knock-out stage in June.
This team has developed brilliantly during the course of this qualifying group and today they beat Sweden 4:1 in Pisa to conclude their campaign. I don't think it's exaggerating to say that Gianluca Scamma has every chance of spearheading Italy's attack in Qatar in two years' time... if we qualify.
It's even more impressive the past few games where the team had to deal with COVID. I mean they even had to field the U20 team vs Ireland.
Nicolato has named his 23 that will play the opening round of the Euro U21 championship next week. Because of covid, the group stage and knockout stage have been split up. The quarters, semis and final will be played in late May, early June. 24th March: Italy vs. Czech Rep 27th March: Italy vs. Spain 30th March: Italy vs. Slovenia Portieri: Marco Carnesecchi (Cremonese), Michele Cerofolini (Reggiana), Alessandro Plizzari (Reggina); Difensori: Raoul Bellanova (Pescara), Enrico Delprato (Reggina), Gianluca Frabotta (Juventus), Matteo Gabbia (Milan), Matteo Lovato (Hellas Verona), Riccardo Marchizza (Spezia), Lorenzo Pirola (Monza), Luca Ranieri (Spal), Marco Sala (Spal), Gabriele Zappa (Cagliari); Centrocampisti: Davide Frattesi (Monza), Giulio Maggiore (Spezia), Tommaso Pobega (Spezia), Samuele Ricci (Empoli), Nicolò Rovella (Genoa), Sandro Tonali (Milan); Attaccanti: Patrick Cutrone (Valencia), Andrea Pinamonti (Inter), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo), Gianluca Scamacca (Genoa).
Hopefully they can advance out of the group and make the knockout phrase. Last U21 championship was a bit of a disappointment to say the least
1-0 at halftime for the Azzurrini so far against the Czechs. Scamacca the goal .. nice through ball from Cutrone. He now has 8 goals in his 13 appearances for the under 21.
not sure about the usa... but anyone in canada can download the UEFA app and stream all these games for free
Scamacca close to a 2nd.. just inches wide. 1-0 still with 30 mins to play. fairly balanced game.. czechs are stingy
Tonali's red was stupid on his part and definetely warranted.. but that second yellow to Marchizza was shit. And that challenge from behind on Maggiore in the box should have been a rigore as well. Buckle up for the "50/50 calls" going the other way... we'll see this in the real euros this summer as well too. #UEFA
This side lacks any fantasia. Plays a predictable italian 3-5-2 with two mediani and two center forwards. Not shocked at the result even if it was an own goal. I haven't seen much U21's in qualifications only highlights, but Nicolato is just another run of the mill Italian manager with the same cookie cutter ideas.
Agreed. i was shocked to see the 3-5-2... i could be wrong but i thought Nicolato was using the 4-3-3 as the FIGC wanted to have the same style of play throughout the national team and all the youth teams.