Italy's Class of '89 (U-18s) [R]

Here is the team that's in training together this week and will play Wednesday vs the "Allievi" (U-18) team of Fiorentina:

Portieri: Corradini (Parma), Gadignani (Bologna);
Difensori: Niero (Padova), Mei (Inter), Tagliani (Brescia), Frendo (Sudtirol), Delle Donne (Inter);
Centrocampisti: Caraglia (Milan), Palombo (Napoli), Loiodice (Roma), Pasquato (Juventus), Triarico (Lecce), Viola (Reggina), Bigeschi (Fiorentina);
Attaccanti: Lorenzini (Parma), Carbonaro (Palermo), Lattenero (Padova), Maritato (Juventus), Marconi (Atalanta), Della Penna (Roma).

Like the U-18 national team, the U-16s mainly get together for friendlies and friendly tournaments since no UEFA or FIFA championships are run at this age level. However, this team will participate in the European Youth Olympic Festival, which is being held in Lignano Sabbiadoro, in the Friulian region of Italy, next July.

 

Re: Italy's U-16s [R]

Final result was 1-1, with the U-16s goal scored by Juventus' Piergiuseppe Maritato. Maritato is an '89 who plays on Juve's Allievi squad, which is mainly '87s.

 

Re: Italy's U-16s [R]

The qualifying draw for next year's UEFA U-17 Championship was held in Switzerland today. The current U-16s will likely form the basis of that team, when qualifying begins next fall. Italy drew Ukraine, Latvia and Ireland in their group.

 

Re: Italy's Class of '89 (U-16s) [R]

The U-16s have a friendly this Wednesday vs Hungary in Pordenone. Here are the players called up for this match:

Portieri: Corradini (Parma), Delfino (Roma);
Difensori: Calà (Messina), Mei (Inter), Tagliani (Brescia), Legittimo (Lecce), Delle Donne (Inter), Loddo (Chievo), Colaiori (Lazio);
Centrocampisti: Caraglia (Milan), Palumbo (Napoli), Loiodice (Roma), Pasquato (Juventus), Triarico (Lecce), Viola (Reggina);
Attaccanti: Lorenzini (Parma), Maritato (Juventus), Marconi (Atalanta), Della Penna (Roma).

 

Re: Italy's Class of '89 (U-16s) [R]

Italy won the game, 1-0. Goal scored in the 29th minute by Juve's Piergiuseppe Maritato.

 

2005 Torneo Europa Unita

Here are the Italy U-16s participating in the Torneo Europa Unita this week in Gradisca d'Isonzo and Nova Gorica in Slovenia. The team plays Slovenia, Slovakia and a club with players from Italy and Slovenia.

Portieri: Corradini (Parma), Delfino (Roma);
Difensori: Ciolli (Juventus), Mei (Inter), Pambianchi (Parma), Tuia (Lazio), Delle Donne (Inter), Colaiori (Lazio);
Centrocampisti: Colato (Parma), Palumbo (Napoli), Loiodice (Roma), Triarico (Lecce), Della Penna (Roma), Viola (Reggina);
Attaccanti: Lorenzini (Parma), Pasquato (Juventus), Borrelli (Napoli), Marconi (Atalanta).

 

2005 Torneo Europa Unita

Big surprise in Italy's opening game, as Antonio Rocca's side could only manage a draw with FC Go&Go, the Italo-Slovenian representative. A table of the game:

ITALIA: Corradini (Parma), Colaiori (Lazio), Delle Donne (Fc Inter), Mei (Fc Inter), Ciolli (Juventus), Palumbo (Napoli), Della Penna (Roma), Loiodice (Roma), Marconi (Atalanta), Pasquato (Juventus), Viola (Reggina), Delfino (Roma), Pambianchi (Parma), Fusciello (Atalanta), Colato (Parma), Tuia (Lazio), Borrelli (Napoli), Lorenzini (Parma). All.Rocca.
FC GO&GO: Fontana, Ballaminut, Blaserna, Burba, Cadez, Chirivino, Cortelessa, Jerkic, Karimovic, Kolman, Kozuh, Suligoj, Mania, Nadalin, Omercevic, Pizzutti, Stojko, Zigon. All.Meroni-Raicovi-Gulin
MARCATORE: pt 20'Marconi; st 30' Jerkic.
AMMONITI: Loiodice, Colaiori, Jerkic.

Italy faces Slovakia today and Slovenia tomorrow. Slovenia beat Slovakia 3-0 in their opening match yesterday. The other group consists of Croatia, Serbia&Montenegro, Romania and Hungary. Serbia&Montenegro and Romania won the two opening matches yesterday. Here is a website for the tournament, which takes place at the same time as the Trofeo Nereo Rocco, a large youth club tournament:

http://www.trofeorocco.com/2005/it/index.php

 

2005 Torneo Europa Unita

Just realized the "game table" I posted above just listed the two squads, not who played. Oh, well. Anyway, Italy defeated Slovakia 1-0 in yesterday's contest. Fusciello got the goal. Slovenia defeated FC Go&Go, meaning today's match vs Slovenia is decisive in determining the group winner.

 

2005 Torneo Europa Unita

Italy defeated Slovenia 1-0 to win the group. Here's a real game table:

ITALIA (4-4-2): 12 Delfino (1 Corradini 1'st), 4 Mei, 13 Pambianchi, 3 Delle Donne, 16 Tuia; 9 Della Penna, 6 Palumbo, 8 Loiodice, 14 Fusciello (11 Viola 26' st); 9 Marconi, 10 Pasquato (2 Colaiori 31'st). All.Rocca.
SLOVENIA (4-5-1): 1 Polegek; 2 Ugrin, 3 Zec (6 Celcer 1'st), 14 Drilic (5 Pelcer 1'st), 15 Komac (6 Petkovic 1'st); 4 Gregorcic; 17 Janev, 9 Sviben, 11 Matavz, 16 Flerin (8 Mocic 1'st); 18 Zigon (7 Stojanovic 1'st). All.Zavrl.
MARCATORE: pt 10' Della Penna.
ARBITRO: Pataric (Slovenia)
NOTE: ammoniti Polegek, Palumbo e Tuia.

Despite the narrow scoreline the game report said "finalment, una bella Italia", with special praise for the outside midfield players. Some comments about the players I can glean from this game report:

http://www.trofeorocco.com/2005/it/incontri.php?tro=2&m_id=43

Left-mid Fusciello created the goal in the 10th minute with a "splendid action" from the left flank, finding his right-side counterpart Della Penna alone in front of the goal. Dalla Penna and forward Pasquato nearly doubled the score in the 18th minute but had it saved by the Slovenian keeper. In the second half, Fusciello again set up a big chance, this time for Marconi, after being released down the left wing by central midfielder Loiodice, but the forward missed. Italy was awarded a penalty about halfway through the second half when Pasquato was brought down in the box after an exchange with Marconi. Pasquato converted the PK, but the ref ruled it should be taken again. This time the Juventus youngster missed, and this took some air out of the Azzurrini's sails, and they suffered somewhat the rest of the way to defend their slim lead.

In tomorrow's semifinals, Italy plays Serbia&Montenegro while Slovenia plays Romania.

 

2005 Torneo Europa Unita

Italy defeated Serbia&Montenegro 1-0 in yesterday's semifinals and will meet Slovenia (who beat Romania on PKs) in the final tonight.

ITALIA (4-4-2): 1 Corradini; 4 Mei, 13 Pambianchi, 3 Delle Donne (24' st 2 Colaiori), 16 Tuia; 9 Della Penna, 6 Palumbo, 8 Loiodice, 14 Fusciello (7' st 11 Viola; 9 Marconi, 10 Pasquato. All.Rocca.
SERBIA/MONTENEGRO (4-4-2): 1 Knezevic, 4 Blagojevic, 5 Tatomirovic, 7 Brezanic (29' pt 13 Karadzic), 8 Adamovic, 10 Pelicic 823' st Reljic), 2 Nikolic, 15 Perovic, 16 Jovetic, 17 Vukovic, 9 Dimitrijevic (23' st Miladinovic). All. Medin.
MARCATORI: st 21' Mei.
ARBITRO: Pataric (Slovenia)
NOTE: ammoniti Tatomirovic, Pasquato, Loiodice e Palombo

Sounds like it was an even game with Inter defender Andrea Mei getting a touch on Pasquato's free kick to score in the 66th minute (in fact, FIGC's report credits the goal to Pasquato ...).

http://www.trofeorocco.com/2005/it/incontri.php?tro=2&m_id=46

 

2005 Torneo Europa Unita

Italy won the final by penalties (6-5) after the game finished 0-0. Five games in 6 days in an exhausting schedule even for 16-year-olds. Here's the table:

ITALIA (4-4-2): 12 Delfino; 4 Mei, 16 Tuia, 13 Pambianchi, 3 Delle Donne; 7 Della Penna, 14 Fusciello, 15 Colato, 11 Viola; 17 Borrelli (8' st 18 Lorenzini), 9 Marconi (10 Pasquato). Allenatore Rocca.
SLOVENIA (4-5-1): 1 Pasagic; 3 Zec, 4 Gregoric, 6 Petkovic, 5 Celcer; 13 Mohar, 8 Mocic, 7 Stojanovic, 9 Sviben (37' st 17 Janev); 10 Morsi; 11 Matavz. Allenatore Zavrl.
ARBITRO Triscari di Latisana.
NOTE espulso Rocca per proteste.

No explanation in this article about what coach Rocca was protesting that got him sent off.

http://www.trofeorocco.com/2005/it/incontri.php?tro=2&m_id=48

The U-16s have a friendly in Switzerland on May 25 before participating in the European Youth Olympic Festival tournament being held in Lignano Sabbiadoro July 3-8. I haven't been able to find a listing of the other teams competing yet at the official site:

http://www.lignano2005.it/

 

Re: Italy's Class of '89 (U-16s) [R]

Here is the list of U-16s called up for tomorrow's friendly in Switzerland:

Portieri: Corradini (Parma), Delfino (Roma);
Difensori: Mei (Inter), Pambianchi (Parma), Tuia (Lazio), Delle Donne (Inter), Calà (Messina), Toscano (Reggina);
Centrocampisti: Bettini (Torino), Palumbo (Napoli), Loiodice (Roma), Fusciello (Atalanta), Della Penna (Roma), Viola (Reggina), Bolzoni (Inter);
Attaccanti: Nocciolini (Fiorentina), Pasquato (Juventus), Marconi (Atalanta).

BTW, I did find the information on the U-16 tournament in the European Youth Olympic Festival tournament. It's a 6-team tournament with Finland, Georgia, Ireland, Latvia and Switzerland joining host Italy. Italy is in a group with Ireland and Finland.

July 4 - Match 1: Switzerland vs Georgia, Match 2: Italy vs Ireland
July 5 - Latvia vs Match 1 Loser, Finland vs Match 2 Loser
July 6 - Latvia vs Match 1 Winner, Finland vs Match 2 Winner
July 8 - 5th-place match, 3rd-place match and championship match

 

Re: Italy's Class of '89 (U-16s) [R]

2-2 was the result vs Switzerland. The Swiss led 2-0 at halftime, but Italy came from behind to get the draw on goals by Michele Marconi and Tobia Fusciello - both players from Atalanta's youth system.

 

Re: Italy's Class of '89 (U-16s) [R]

You're welcome. The FIGC finally put something up this morning, which is how I found it eventually:

http://www.figc.it/italiano/archivi...aggio_2005/260505_under_16/primo_piano_03.htm

 

2005 European Youth Olympic Festival

Here is the roster of U-16 players called up by coach Antonio Rocca for the European Youth Olympic Festival tournament which begins this weekend in Lignano Sabbiadoro, in Udine. This will likely be their final competition as U-16s - these guys will probably compete as U-17s in qualifying for the 2006 UEFA championship beginning this fall (although the current U-17s from the class of 1988 will be competing in the FIFA World Championships in Peru).

Portieri: Menegon (Padova), Delfino (Roma);
Difensori: Mei (Inter), Pambianchi (Parma), Delle Donne (Inter), Sgambato (Inter), Porcaro (Reggina);
Centrocampisti: Palumbo (Napoli), Loiodice (Roma), Della Penna (Roma), D'Ambrosio (Salernitana), Barillà (Reggina);
Attaccanti: Tiboni (Atalanta), Pasquato (Juventus), Marconi (Atalanta), Piccolo (Salernitana).

 

2005 European Youth Olympic Festival

Found an article with some quotes from Coach Rocca heading into this tournament:

http://it.sports.yahoo.com/050629/8/93ir.html

He says something about it being preparation for European qualifying in Poland in September, so I'm a little bit confused as I thought Italy had drawn Ukraine, Latvia and Ireland. I'm also surprised because the article says they'll be playing Ireland and Norway in this EYOF tournament when I had them vs Ireland and Latvia or Finland. Well, we'll see.

 

2005 European Youth Olympic Festival

Italy's U-16s got off to a good start at the European Olympic Youth Festival tournament today with a 4-2 win over Ireland.

ITALIA-IRLANDA 4-2

Marcatori: nel primo tempo al 15’Tiboni, al 16’Rooney, al 29’D’Ambrosio. Nella ripresa al 16’ e al 38’ Pasquato, al 41’ Power (rig).
ITALIA: Delfino, Sgambato, Delle Donne (1st Porcaro), Mei, Pambianchi (al 13st Marconi), Loiodice, D’Ambrosio, Palumbo, Tiboni, Barillà (25st Della Penna), Piccolo(14st Pasquato). Allenatore: Rocca
IRLANDA: Ferry, Mc Cardle, Power, Dennehy, O’Shea, Judge (Douglas al 12st), Connellan, Byrne, O’Sullivan (al 12st O’Connor), Downes (al 25st Bonner), Rooney. Allenatore: O’Reilly
ARBITRO: Silagava (Geo); Guardialinee: Meroni (Svi) e Treimanis (Lat)
Note: Spettatori: 1300 circa, angoli: 5-1 per l’Irlanda. Ammoniti: O’Sullivan, Tiboni

http://www.lignano2005.it/index.php?op=news&S=259

Italy plays next against Finland on Wednesday.

 

2005 European Youth Olympic Festival

Here's an English translation of the game report:

http://www.lignano2005.it/index.php?op=news&S=259

BTW, yesterday's other result in the 6-team tournament was Georgia 2 Switzerland 1. Today Ireland plays Finland and Switzerland plays Latvia. Tomorrow, it's Italy vs Finland and Georgia vs Lativa. There are no semifinals -at the end of group play, the overall classification will be determined by simply having the same-ranked teams in each group play each other - 1st vs 1st for gold and silver, 2nd vs 2nd for bronze, and 3rd vs 3rd to determine 5th place.

Also of note, although Italy's team is entirely from the 1989 age group, this tournament is for players born in 1988 or '89, so Italy's team is a young one.

 

2005 European Youth Olympic Festival

Today's results:

Italy 1 Finland 1
Georgia 2 Latvia 2

In yesterday's games, Ireland beat Finland 1-0 while Switzerland easily handled Latvia 6-1

This puts the final group standings at:
Italy 4 pts
Ireland 3 pts
Finland 1 pt

Georgia 4 pts
Switzerland 3 pts
Latvia 1 pt

On Friday, Italy will play Georgia for the gold medal; Ireland and Switzerland will play for the bronze, and Finland and Latvia will play for 5th place.

 

2005 European Youth Olympic Festival

The table for the Finland game:

FINLANDIA-ITALIA 1-1
Marcatori: pt 33’ D’Ambrosio, st 35’ Kaitila
FINLANDIA: Tuisku, Makinen (st 18’ Virtanen), Nikkila (st 24’ Kaitila), Halme, Minkinen, Tormanen, Roschier, Pelvas, Ahola, Lindberg (st 1’ Riski), Lomski. All. Heliskoski.
ITALIA: Delfino, Sgambato, Delle Donne, Mei, Pambianchi, Loiodice, D’Ambrosio (st 42’ Marconi), Palumbo, Tiboni, Barillà, Piccolo (st 6’ Pasquato). All. Rocca.
Arbitro: Treismanis (Lettonia). Guardialinee: Silagava (Georgia) e Meroni (Svizzera).
Note: recupero pt 0’, st 3’. 1400 spettatori circa.

Game report:
http://www.lignano2005.it/index.php?op=news&S=325

 

2005 European Youth Olympic Festival

Quasi-English game report on the Finland game:

http://www.lignano2005.it/index.php?op=news&S=325

Sounds like it was a bit of a struggle for Italy.

 

2005 European Youth Olympic Festival

Georgia surprised hosts Italy to take the gold medal today, winning 2-0 with a goal in each half. Here's a link to the game table:

http://www.lignano2005.it/risultati/calcio/1-2 ita-geo.pdf

 

Re: Italy's Class of '89 (U-16s) [R]

Game Table:
Marcatori: pt 34’ Tsinampzghvrishvili,st 31’ Janelidze
ITALIA: Delfino (st 29’ Menegon), Sgambato (st 18’ Della Penna), Delle Donne (st 20’ Porcaro), Mei, Pambianchi, Loiodice, D’Ambrosio, Palumbo (st 1’ Barillà), Tiboni, Pasquato, Piccolo (st 1’ Marconi). Allenatore Rocca.
GEORGIA: Tevdoradze, Tomashvili, Khipesheli, Elbakidze, Benashvili, Gogokhia, Paushvili, Tsinampzghvrishvili (st 39’ Sharangia), Pzaria (st 21’ Janelidze), Gvapzabia, Bzahalava. Allenatore Zhorzikashvili. A disposizione: 12 Pautashvili, 8 Nikolaishvili, 15 Khumarashvili, 16 Sharangia.
Note: ammoniti Gvapzabia, Tsinampzghvrishvili, Della Penna

Italian game report:
http://www.lignano2005.it/index.php?op=news&S=382&ret=998

English translation:
http://www.lignano2005.it/index.php?op=news&S=382

 

Re: Italy's Class of '89 (new U-17s) [R]

The 1st round of UEFA U-17 qualifying is set for this group of players (not to be confused with the U-17 team of '88s which will be playing in the world championships in Peru this fall). Here is the schedule for the Group 2 tournament, which will be held in Ukraine:

Sept 27 - vs Latvia
Sept 29 - vs Ireland
Oct 1 - vs Ukraine

It definitely won't be a simple task to win the group and advance to the elite round of qualifying.

As preparation, the Italian team will participate in the International Pepsi Tournament in Bristol, England from Aug 31-Sep 4. Besides England and Italy, the English FA's website says the USA and Portugal will also participate.