Italy Under 21’s have arrived in Turkey ready to go again. After Friday’s draw against Latvia, the second match of the Euro 2025 qualifying round will be played on Tuesday at 18:30 CEST in Kocaeli. The Azzurrini face a Turkey squad, including Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz, that lost against Ireland on Friday and are also hoping to redress a negative result. Matteo Ruggieri: “We will be up against a difficult team to play, who had a good game against Ireland. We need to tighten up every detail. There are many boys with great quality and potential in our squad: there are some things to address, but this will become a great group. The game against Latvia was a bit daring, but we are on the right track”.

Born in San Giovanni Bianco, the same village as Davide Astori, Ruggieri came up through the Atalanta youth system, and after some time at Salernitana, he returned to play in Nerazzurro last season and has been chosen thrice already by Gasperini to start matches in the new league campaign. He explains: “I’ve started well, but the road ahead is still long. I’m fortunate to have a coach who works really hard on the physical aspects of the game. We will have many close games and this is what will make the difference”. For Italy, on the other hand, Ruggieri once again plays for Nunziata, even if most of the squad starting this season are newcomers: “On Tuesday, it will already be fundamental to be compact in defence and make the most of our chances up-front”. The differences between Atalanta and Italy are mostly in the formation: “The hardest thing is to adapt. In Bergamo, I play as a wingback; a back four, however, is different, even if I still try to push forwards while staying aware of defensive play."

Debuting for the Italy Under 21’s last year in the game against Japan at Castel di Sangro, Matteo’s story is one of a child who started playing football in Zogno, Bergamo, at nine years old and was noticed by an Atalanta scout. “My passion is also thanks to my parents who always made sure I could train. If I am here today, it is thanks to the opportunities they gave me. The Azzurri shirt is a huge privilege and it is not a given to be able to wear it. When you do, you have to give your all. Then the results will come”.

 

UEFA EURO UNDER 21 2025 - GROUP A
Thursday 7 September
San Marino vs. Norway 0-7
Friday 8 September
Latvia vs. Italy 0-0
Ireland vs. Turkey 3-2
Table: (games-played in brackets): Latvia (2) 4, Norway (1), Ireland (1) 3, Italy (1) 1, Turkey (1), San Marino (2) 0

 

Tuesday 12 September 

Norway vs. Latvia (18:00 CEST)

Turkey vs. Italy (18:30 CEST in Kocaeli, live on Rai)

Ireland vs. San Marino (20:30 CEST)

 

ITALY’S SCHEDULE
Tuesday 17 October (17:45 CEST): Italy vs. Norway (Bolzano)
Thursday 16 November: San Marino vs. Italy
Tuesday 21 November: Ireland vs. Italy
Friday 22 March 2024: Italy vs. Latvia
Tuesday 26 March 2024: Italy vs. Turkey
Thursday 5 September 2024: Italy vs. San Marino
Tuesday 10 September 2024: Norway vs. Italy
Tuesday 15 October 2024: Italy vs. Ireland

Schedule
Monday 11 September*
11:00 CEST Nunziata press conference (Zoom and in person)
17:00 CEST training at the Izmit Stadium, Kocaeli (open to the press for the first 15 minutes)
Tuesday 12 September*
18:30 CEST Turkey vs. Italy (Izmit Stadium, Kocaeli)
Followed by a press conference (Zoom and in person), flights from Sakarya to Milan Malpensa and Roma Fiumicino and the disbandment of the group

 

*(CEST, Turkey and Latvia CEST+1)