After their first first group defeat on 8 September in Sweden, the Under-21 National team will return to the pitch for two crucial games in the European Championship qualification process. Head Coach Paolo Nicolato has selected 25 players for the two matches against Iceland and the Republic of Ireland, scheduled respectively on Friday 9 October at the Víkingsvöllur stadium in Reykjavik and Tuesday 13 October at Arena Garibaldi-Romeo Anconetani in Pisa. Both matches kick off at 17:30 CEST and will be streamed live on Rai 2.

There are three Azzurrini players who have received their first Under-21 call-ups: goalkeeper Alessandro Russo from Virtus Entella, and the defenders Gianluca Frabotta (Juventus) and Matteo Lovato (Hellas Verona). Gianluca Scamacca, who signed for Genoa today, is able to join the squad since he hasn’t had any contact with the Rossoblù.

Second in the Group 1 rankings with 13 points, three behind Ireland having played a game less, Italy will meet on Sunday 4 October in Tirrenia, and on Thursday 8 October they will leave for Reykjavik on the eve of the match against Iceland. It will be the second time on Icelandic turf for the Under-21s after their win (1-0) in September 2006 against the hosts on the day of Pierliugi Casiraghi’s debut on the Under-21 bench. On Saturday 10 October, Italy will return to training in Tirrenia, and on Monday 12 October they will put the finishing touches to their preparations at the Arena Garibaldi-Romeo Anconetani in Pisa, the venue of the match against the Republic of Ireland, which is scheduled for Tuesday 13 October. Their only previous match in the Tuscan city dates back to 9 April 1986, when Italy beat England 2-0 in the semi-final first-leg clash between the sides at the European Championship.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Alessandro Plizzari (Reggina), Alessandro Russo (Virtus Entella);

Defenders: Claud Adjapong (Lecce), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Raoul Bellanova (Pescara), Nicolò Casale (Hellas Verona), Enrico Delprato (Reggina), Gianluca Frabotta (Juventus), Matteo Gabbia (Milan), Matteo Lovato (Hellas Verona), Riccardo Marchizza (Spezia), Marco Sala (Spal), Marco Varnier (Pisa);

Midfielders: Andrea Colpani (Monza), Davide Frattesi (Monza), Giulio Maggiore (Spezia), Youssef Maleh (Venezia), Samuele Ricci (Empoli), Sandro Tonali (Milan), Niccolò Zanellato (Crotone);

Forwards: Patrick Cutrone (Fiorentina), Andrea Pinamonti (Inter), Gianluca Scamacca (Genoa), Riccardo Sottil (Cagliari).

Schedule

Sunday 4 October

By 23:00 - Get-together at the Centro Di Preparazione Olimpica in Tirrenia

Monday 5 October

10:30 - Training (behind closed doors)

17:30 - Allenamento (behind closed doors)

Tuesday 6 October

10:30 - Training (behind closed doors)

17:30 – Training (behind closed doors)

Wednesday 7 October

10:30 - Training (behind closed doors)

17:30 - Training (open to RAI TV)

Thursday 8 October

10:00 - Charter flight Pisa-Reykjavik 

15:30 (l.t.) - Training session at Víkingsvöllur (first 15 minutes open to the public)

Friday 9 October

15:30 (l.t.) - ICELAND  VS. ITALY Víkingsvöllur in Reykjavik (followed by a press conference)

Saturday 10 October

10:00 (l.t.) - Charter flight Reykjiavik-Pisa and subsequent transfer to the CPO in Tirrenia

18:30 - Training session (behind closed doors)

Sunday 11 October

11:00 - Training

Monday 12 October

10:30 - Training (behind closed doors)

18:30 - Training at the Arena Garibaldi – Romeo Anconetani in Pisa (first 15 minutes open to the public)

Tuesday 13 October

17:30 – ITALY VS. REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, Arena Garibaldi – Romeo Anconetani in Pisa (followed by press conference and the team's return home)