Italian U21 National Team

[Jager]

Azzurrini venue confirmed Tuesday 14 August, 2007

The Under-21 international between Italy and France will be hosted by La Spezia’s Stadio Picco after getting the police’s go-ahead.

The August 21 friendly had been scheduled at the Serie B outfit’s arena, but seemed set to be moved after it failed security checks.

New safety criteria were enforced after the tragic riots in Catania in February, when 38-year-old Chief Inspector Filippo Raciti was killed outside the Stadio Massimino after the derby with Palermo.

The Stadio Picco initially failed to pass all the necessary requirements and football authorities were considering the idea of changing the venue or playing the match behind closed doors.

But a special provincial commission has now given its approval and the match will take place as scheduled on August 21.

However, the commission will meet again on August 29 when the renovation work must have been completed, including the installation of new turnstiles, numbered seating and CCTV systems.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Jager]

Casiraghi selects Azzurrini Thursday 16 August, 2007

Azzurrini boss Pierluigi Casiraghi has announced his squad for Italy’s Under-21 friendly against France on August 21.

Casiraghi’s men will use the test at Spezia’s Stadio Alberto Picco to prepare for their September 7 European Championships qualifer against the Faroe Islands.

There are unexpected places for Arezzo defender Andrea Ranocchia and Cremonese goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.

Meanwhile, Villarreal new boy Giuseppe Rossi remains an Azzurrini.

The squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Consigli (Rimini), Sirigu (Cremonese)
Defenders: Andreolli (Roma), Criscito (Juventus), Marzoratti (Empoli), Motta (Udinese), Pisano (Cagliari), Ranocchia (Arezzo), Santacroce (Brescia)
Midfielders: Cigarini (Parma), De Ceglie (Siena), Dessena (Parma), Giovinco (Empoli), Marchisio (Empoli), Morosini (Vicenza), Paonessa (Bologna), Russotto (Treviso)
Strikers: Acquafresca (Cagliari), Lupoli (Fiorentina), Pozzi (Empoli), Rossi (Villarreal)

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Jager]

U-21: France served Italian lesson Tuesday 21 August, 2007

The Italian Under-21 side kicked off the 2007-08 season in the best possible manner with a 2-1 victory over France.

A lively first half performance won it for the Azzurrini in a game that underlined that they will again be a force to be reckoned with on this stage for the immediate future.

Coach Gigi Casiraghi opted to use the Spezia test to try out a new formation.

Having mainly used a 4-1-4-1 with the last Under-21 generation, the former striker fielded a potentially more exciting 4-3-2-1 shape against a French outfit that included Milan’s Yoann Gourcuff and impressive Monaco forward Jeremy Menez.

However, it was the Azzurrini who ended the first half in front after a scintillating spell of football from Sebastian Giovinco and Giuseppe Rossi.

The two gems were used as No 10s behind Nicola Pozzi and it proved to be effective against a Les Bleus side which was clearly weak on the right flank.

In a game which included some tasty challenges, which led to the showing of numerous yellow cards, Italy took their time to really threaten French ‘keeper Hugo Lloris even if Giovinco and Rossi were looking dangerous.

French attacks were rather thin and were mainly limited to long-range efforts that were comfortably dealt with by Andrea Consigli in between the Italian sticks.

By the half hour stage Italy had settled and took the lead through Daniele Dessena. He may have been the kid who got his name on the score-sheet but it was all down to Giovinco really.

The pint-sized attacking midfielder, on loan at Empoli from Juventus, skipped past three players on the left and his low cross was diverted into the empty net by Dessena. It was the youngster’s second international goal in just four games.

That strike saw the limited crowd at the Alberto Picco rise to their feet and they did the same just three minutes later when Rossi made it 2-0. A corner from the left found Rossi near the penalty spot and the new Villarreal signing stylishly smashed it in with his left foot.

Half-time brought with it the inevitable mass changes which we are accustomed to in friendlies and robbed us of more from Rossi and Giovinco who were replaced by Arturo Lupoli and Robert Acquafresca.

The changes had a negative effect on the Azzurrini who gifted France a goal back. A misunderstanding at the back between Marco Motta and Lino Marzoratti allowed the ball to find Julien Quercia who slotted home.

The Italian defence was looking rather nervy having lost Domenico Criscito in training this morning, before Marco Andreolli and Fabiano Santacroce were forced off during the game because of injury.

And it wasn’t long before France almost equalised as sub ‘keeper Salvatore Sirigu was forced into a cracking save from Yoan Gouffran.

The second period was no advertisement for entertainment as the sides struggled to build attacks with the final ball letting down both sets of players. Marchisio and Lupoli did have efforts on goal, but neither looked like rippling the net.

It wasn’t until injury time that the scoreline almost changed again. Gabriele Paonessa cut in from the left and his right-footed shot slammed into the post. It mattered not though as Italy held on for a win they deserved and clearly wanted.

Italy 2-1 France
Goals: Dessena 37 (I), G Rossi 40 (I), Quercia 55 (F)

Italy: Consigli (Sirigu 46); Motta, Andreolli (Santacroce 22, Ranocchia 57), Marzoratti, Pisano (Paonessa 66); Cigarini (Morosini 60), Dessena (De Ceglie 46), Marchisio; Giovinco (Lupoli 46), Rossi (Acquafresca 46); Pozzi (Russotto 46)

France: Lloris; Bellaid, Josse (Louvion 71), Marange (Moutaouakil 46), Dabo (Marveaux 46); Chantome (Gouffran 46), Gourcuff (Mulumbu 86), Matuidi, Payet (Ben Arfa 46); Menez (Quercia 46), Samassa (Bonnet 46)

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Jager]

Azzurrini proud after win Wednesday 22 August, 2007

It was all smiles in the Azzurrini camp after Italy’s Under-21 side beat France 2-1 at Spezia’s Stadio Alberto Picco.

Pierluigi Casiraghi’s men were spurred on by glittering performances from Empoli man Sebastian Giovinco and Villarreal new boy Giuseppe Rossi.

Two goals within three minutes late in the first period courtesy of Rossi and Parma midfielder Daniele Dessena ensured that the Italians won a hotly contested encounter.

“It was a good test,” Casiraghi stated. “They are one of the best sides at Under-21 level and we controlled the game and played quality football all over the pitch.”

Ex-Parma youth Rossi was also clearly satisifed with the performance and especially his left-footed volley that made it 2-0.

“France gave us a tough game, but I think we played well, especially for the first 45 minutes,” the US-born hitman insisted. “For my goal I was thankful that the ball stayed high enough for me to get a good contact.”

Ex-Juventus man Giovinco showed his delight at a victory earned despite a lack of fitness in comparison with their opposition.

“Even though it is early days and this was just a friendly, it was an important win for our qualifying campaign,” he claimed. “We are in much worse condition than France, but we did the job well.”

The Azzurrini’s qualifying campaign for the 2009 Under-21 European Championships in Sweden began with a 4-0 win over Albania in June and continues with the visit of the Faroe Islands on September 7.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Azzurrini organise Dutch test Friday 11 January, 2008

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Pierluigi Casiraghi’s Olympic team will play their Dutch counterparts in a friendly match on February 5.

The Azzurrini will have their first test ahead of the Beijing Olympics at the Paolo Mazza stadium in Ferrara next month.

The squad will be made up of players born after or including 1985, including some of those who played in the 2006 European Championships.

Italy finished third in that competition, beating hosts Portugal on a penalty shoot-out.

channel4.com - Football Italia

Should be a decent test.

[D-Kin]

The squad:

Goalkeepers: Consigli (Rimini), Viviano (Brescia)
Defenders: Coda (Udinese), Criscito (Genoa), De Ceglie (Siena), Marzoratti (Empoli), Motta (Torino), Rossettini (Siena), M Rossi (Parma)
Midfielders: Cigarini (Parma), Galloppa (Siena), Giovinco (Empoli), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Morosini (Vicenza), Nocerino (Juventus), Russotto (Treviso)
Strikers: Cerci (Pisa), Osvaldo (Fiorentina), Pozzi (Empoli), G Rossi (Villarreal)

[D-Kin]

Ignazio Abate has replaced Sebastian Giovinco in the squad after he picked up an injury.
channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

U-21: Rossi brings down Dutch Tuesday 5 February, 2008

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Giuseppe Rossi inspired the Azzurrini to an impressive scalp in a 2-1 friendly victory over European champions Holland.

Pierluigi Casiraghi opted for a 4-3-2-1 system headed by former Parma and Manchester United starlet Rossi, who has scored 10 goals in Spain for Villarreal.

The Dutch had a good chance early on with Luyckx firing wide from a poor clearance, but Italy went ahead three minutes later.

Rossi threaded through for Daniel Pablo Osvaldo to spring the offside trap and the Fiorentina striker swept it past goalkeeper Velthuizen.

Coach Casiraghi made six substitutions at the break and moved Rossi’s position, but he continued to dominate the squad.

One of the new faces, Treviso’s Russotto, drilled just wide and brought a tough save out of Velthuizen soon after stepping on to the field.

But it was Rossi who doubled the advantage on 62 minutes when his left-foot strike from distance took a deflection off Drost.

Holland got back into the game late on with an acrobatic Drenthe thunderbolt, but Donk’s dismissal made a complete turnaround unlikely.

It was a good performance from the Azzurrini, who are warming up for the Olympics in Beijing on August 6.

Italy 2-1 Holland
Scorers: Osvaldo 27 (I), G Rossi 62 (I), Drenthe 72 (H)
Sent off: Donk 82 (H)
Italy U-21: Viviano (1'st Consigli); Motta (M Rossi 46), Coda, Criscito (Rossettini 46), De Ceglie; Nocerino, Cigarini (Paonessa 70), Montolivo (Morosini 46); Osvaldo (Russotto 46) (Marzoratti 90), Cerci (Pozzi 46); G Rossi (Abate 63)
Holland U-21: Velthuizen; Zuiverloon, Donk, Luijckkx (Elia 46), Pieters (Jong-A-Pin 46); Brama (Vormer 46), Drost (Janse 46), De Jong; Amrabat (George 46), Sno, Drenthe
Ref: Perez Rubinos (Spagna)
Attendance: 5,000

channel4.com - Football Italia

Decent result.

[NJ10]

Just watching Italy play Japan in the Toulon tournament on Eurosport and a couple of players have really caught my eye.

One is Giovinco, who I believe plays for Juventus (but has been on loan at Empoli), the other is Pelle, who is playing up front with the guy from Fiorentina who scored a phenomenal overhead kick on the final day- Osvaldo?

Can anyone tell me how these guys are doing in Serie A/the Eredivisie, and whether they are looking like future internationals. Giovinco in particular looks like a real talent.

[azzurri]

Originally Posted by NJ10

Just watching Italy play Japan in the Toulon tournament on Eurosport and a couple of players have really caught my eye.

One is Giovinco, who I believe plays for Juventus (but has been on loan at Empoli), the other is Pelle, who is playing up front with the guy from Fiorentina who scored a phenomenal overhead kick on the final day- Osvaldo?

Can anyone tell me how these guys are doing in Serie A/the Eredivisie, and whether they are looking like future internationals. Giovinco in particular looks like a real talent.

He is from the Juve primavera (youth team), and has been with the club since his early teen's.

He is the best young Italian player. I'm not just saying that because I'm a Juventino either. He consistently get's the highest rating by all the sports papers when he plays for the azzurrini.

He did a great job on loan at Empoli this past season, literally carrying their attack in some games. Not an easy feat for some1 in their debut serie a season.

As u can tell, he is really small. He is shorter than Messi, but like Messi, that makes him all the more agile. He is fast, and has quick feet, but his strongest attribute is his playmaking/passing. He prefers to play behind the striker's, but he can play in variety of attacking position's since he is good with both feet.

He is the only Juventus prospect who lived up to his hype this past season, and I would put him in our starting 11. If he isn't with us next season, there will be an uproar. Our policy of loaning around youth until they expire has never really worked, and I cant remember the last Juve product to have so much hype surrounding him.

Here is 1 of the better compilations:

TalkSoccer Media Player

[D-Kin]

Giovinco is just on another level to everyone else, potentially he could turn into a absolutely phenomenal player.

More on him here:
http://www.talksoccer.net/forum/juve...-giovinco.html

[llewelyn]

Originally Posted by NJ10

Just watching Italy play Japan in the Toulon tournament on Eurosport and a couple of players have really caught my eye.

One is Giovinco, who I believe plays for Juventus (but has been on loan at Empoli), the other is Pelle, who is playing up front with the guy from Fiorentina who scored a phenomenal overhead kick on the final day- Osvaldo?

Can anyone tell me how these guys are doing in Serie A/the Eredivisie, and whether they are looking like future internationals. Giovinco in particular looks like a real talent.

NJ10,

Giovinco is definitely the most talented Italian on the squad and possibly the most talented youngster in all of Italy. I believe he scored 6 goals for Empoli this year and when I saw him play he was very good (he was mainly responsible for salvaging Empoli a point earlier in the season against Roma).

Osvaldo scored 4 goals for Fiorentina in Serie A and one more in the UEFA Cup iirc. He didn't play all that often but scored big goals against the likes of Juventus and Torino (the overhead kick you mentioned). He is usually a sub in the U-21 side as it's usually Giovinco playing behind Rossi and Acquafresca.

Pelle I didn't see play at all but I heard he struggled, only scoring 3 goals all season. He was born in '85, so it's the first time he's featured for the Azzurrini since last years championships.

I'd say Giovinco is a sure bet for the Azzurri in the future. I'm not so sure about Osvaldo and Pelle though (at least not any time soon).

Italy got past Japan on penalties. Another player who hasn't featured much in the qualifying for next summer u21 championships but has impressed in this tournament is Ignazio Abate. Man this guy is fast. He made one run today that was just amazing.

They now play Chile in the final on Thursday. Hope that helped.

Didn't see Azzurri's or D-KIn's response. But, yeah, he's that good.

[NJ10]

Thanks for the info chaps. Appreciated.

Giovinco scored the winning penalty in the shootout, and he really was just a cut above everyone else on the pitch.

Llewelyn, the guy you mentioned, Abate, he was very impressive when he came on. Lightning quick but also seemed to have a decent cross on him, set one chance up for the other sub (the one who chipped his penalty down the middle, cant remember his name- Cavedra or something??).

[llewelyn]

Originally Posted by NJ10

Thanks for the info chaps. Appreciated.

Giovinco scored the winning penalty in the shootout, and he really was just a cut above everyone else on the pitch.

Llewelyn, the guy you mentioned, Abate, he was very impressive when he came on. Lightning quick but also seemed to have a decent cross on him, set one chance up for the other sub (the one who chipped his penalty down the middle, cant remember his name- Cavedra or something??).

Antonio Candreva, yeah.

Italy was much more dangerous once Abate came on. Before he did, the entire offense was playing through the left with Giovinco. Nocerino (Juventus), who proved this year he can't play out to the right, looked much more comfortable as well once Abate came on. Also, Giovinco drifted much more to the right once he realized the impact Abate was having. I think this tournament has helped him as a player more so than anyone else on the side.