Three matches in seven days, 270 minutes to do enough to progress to the European Championship. The Under-21 National Team are set to play their final three European qualifying matches, starting with a trip to Reykjavik to face Iceland on Thursday 12 November (14:15 CET). This fixture was postponed a month ago by UEFA, with the Icelandic authorities requesting that the Italian camp enter quarantine following three positive COVID-19 cases (two players and a member of staff).

The Azzurrini will then take to the pitch in Differdange on Sunday 15 November (17:30 CET) to face Luxembourg, while Sweden will be the visitors to the Stadio Arena Garibaldi-Romeo Anconetani in Pisa on Wednesday 18 November – Italy’s final group match.

The FIGC has decided to establish an Under-21 B side alongside the Under-21 National Team for these fixtures. The two teams, who will be coached by Alberto Bollini and Paolo Nicolato respectively, will work together synergistically, with Maurizio Viscidi, National Youth Team Coordinator, coordinating matters. The aim is to promptly respond to any needs that may arise.

30 players have been called up by Nicolato, while Bollini has named 28 men in his squad for a training camp that will help shape a side that will be involved in the Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia in May. The two teams will both train in Tirrenia, but they’ll remain separate, including when it comes to accommodation arrangements. Should it be necessary, any Under 21 B players will be able to seamlessly transition to the Under-21 side over the course of the upcoming period. Following positive COVID-19 cases at Fiorentina, Frosinone, Genoa, Inter and Sassuolo, players from these five clubs will only be able to join up with the squad once they have received permission from the relevant health authorities.

The Under-21s are currently top of their European Championship qualifying group with 16 points, the same number as Ireland (who, however, have played a game more) and one ahead of Sweden and Iceland (the former have played eight matches and the latter seven). The winners of the nine groups will qualify, as will the five best runners-up. Hungary and Slovenia, the co-hosts, will also be involved. The final tournament will then be played in two stages: the group stage and the knockout stage. The former, which will take place from 24 to 31 March 2021, will see the 16 qualified sides drawn into four groups of four, with the top two from each group progressing to the knockout stage, which will start from the quarter-finals (31 May to 6 June 2021).

Under-21 A team

Goalkeepers: Federico Brancolini (Fiorentina)*, Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Michele Cerofolini (Reggiana), Alessandro Russo (Virtus Entella);
Defenders: Claud Adjapong (Lecce), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter)*, Raoul Bellanova (Pescara), Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino), Nicolò Casale (Empoli), Enrico Delprato (Reggina), Gianluca Frabotta (Juventus), Matteo Gabbia (Milan), Matteo Lovato (Hellas Verona), Riccardo Marchizza (Spezia), Marco Sala (Spal), Marco Varnier (Pisa), Alessandro Vogliacco (Pordenone);
Midfielders: Marco Carraro (Frosinone)*, Davide Frattesi (Monza), Giulio Maggiore (Spezia), Youssef Maleh (Venezia), Filippo Melegoni (Genoa)*, Samuele Ricci (Empoli), Nicolò Rovella (Genoa)*, Niccolò Zanellato (Crotone);
Forwards: Patrick Cutrone (Fiorentina)*, Andrea Pinamonti (Inter)*, Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo)*, Gianluca Scamacca (Genoa)*, Riccardo Sottil (Cagliari).
Head Coach: Paolo Nicolato

* will join up with the squad only after receiving permission from the relevant health authorities

Under-21 B team

Goalkeepers: Simone Ghidotti (Pergolettese), Stefano Turati (Sassuolo)*;
Defenders: Pietro Beruatto (Vicenza Virtus), Davide Bettella (Monza), Samuele Birindelli (Pisa), Andrea Carboni (Cagliari), Giuseppe Cuomo (Crotone), Christian Dalle Mura (Fiorentina)*, Memeh Caleb Okoli (Spal), Andrea Papetti (Brescia), Lorenzo Pirola (Monza), Luca Ranieri (Spal), Alessandro Tripaldelli (Cagliari), Gabriele Zappa (Cagliari), Nadir Zortea (Cremonese);
Midfielders: Andrea Colpani (Monza), Alessandro Cortinovis (Atalanta), Fabio Maistro (Pescara), Hans Nicolussi Caviglia (Parma), Tommaso Pobega (Spezia), Manolo Portanova (Juventus), Filippo Ranocchia (Juventus), Emanuele Zuelli (Chievo Verona);
Forwards: Lorenzo Colombo (Milan), Sebastiano Esposito (Spal), Roberto Piccoli (Spezia), Eddie Antonhy Mora Salcedo (Hellas Verona), Emanuel Vignato (Bologna).
Head Coach: Alberto Bollini

* will join up with the squad only after receiving permission from the relevant health authorities