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Italy striker Giampaolo Pazzini is desperate to make up for lost time as the Azzurrini prepare to fly out to the UEFA European Under-21 Championship on Friday.
Pazzini was part of the side that failed to get beyond the group stage in Portugal last year and is determined to make amends as Italy go in search of a record sixth triumph.
"We want to play a great tournament to make up for our disappointment in Portugal last year," the 22-year-old said. "We are all serene, and our aim is to win the European Championship."
Italy kick off their campaign against Serbia on Monday and Pazzini is confident of success. "We're an excellent team, very competitive, and I think we have proved that. We have made a lot of sacrifices to get here, and we will face this last challenge doing everything we can to win."
Pazzini, who scored a hat-trick against England at Wembley in March, came up through the prestigious Atalanta youth system alongside Riccardo Montolivo. The pair subsequently moved to Fiorentina and both now share the same goal in the Netherlands. "We are determined," Montolivo said. "We're stronger than last year, because this season we've been playing more regularly with our teams."
On the eve of the squad traveling to the Netherlands, coach Pierluigi Casiraghi recieved a blow with the news that defender Alessandro Potenza will miss the tournament after suffering an injury to his right thigh in training.
The influential Fiorentina player was one of the most experienced players in the Azzurrini squad. The 23-year-old made 19 appearances for Fiorentina this season and also played all 270 minutes of Italy's finals matches at the European Under-21 Championship in Portugal last summer.
Should UEFA's medical staff confirm Potenza's injury to be sufficiently serious as to rule him out of the competition, Casiraghi has requested for Udinese right-back Marco Motta to replace him. A 21-year-old product of Atalanta's youth system, Motta played 16 games in Serie A for Udinese last season.[U21 Euro 2007 Championship Finals Schedule]
Italy coach Pierluigi Casiraghi is concentrating on "technical and tactical preparation" as he works with his squad at the national training base of Coverciano before departing for the Netherlands on Friday afternoon.
By then, the Azzurrini will have been together a week as they aim to arrive at the European Under-21 Championship in peak condition having failed to negotiate the group stage as holders in Portugal last summer.
"We have to consider the condition and age of the players as it's the end of a long season and I don't want to ask too much of them," said Casiraghi, who replaced Claudio Gentile after the 2006 finals. "That said, we'll work hard on a day-to-day basis to ensure we're in shape for our opening match against Serbia."
Italy's first game will be played in Nijmegen on Monday before further Group B assignments against England and the Czech Republic in Arnhem.
"We're focusing on technical and tactical preparation," Casiraghi continued. "We always try to play good football, and usually we do, but sometimes we should be more solid. However, the fact the players are very confident they can achieve something in these finals is a positive. Confidence is key at tournaments like this, although I'll remind them not to be complacent and to be ready to make sacrifices."[U21 Euro 2007 Championship Finals Schedule]
Roberto Donadoni hailed Fabio Quagliarella and the Azzurri’s team spirit with a dig at the absent Francesco Totti.
The lead-up to the Euro 2008 qualifier in Lithuania, which ended 2-0 with Quagliarella’s brace, had been dominated by media debate over Totti’s sabbatical.
"At least there will be a little less discussion about those who are absent, knowing we have excellent players at our disposal," smiled the coach. "All you need is a little patience and balance in all things. I think this squad proved once again what it means to be a real squad and the rest is all talk."
This was their fifth consecutive victory and a much stronger performance than Saturday’s 2-1 win in the Faroe Islands.Above all it was a comfortable result after Donadoni’s reign had begun with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Lithuania in Naples. "Last time we were a team out of shape, even if we still did enough to deserve the victory. Now we see players at the end of the season, having achieved great things with their clubs."
Quagliarella’s explosion this season has given Donadoni more options upfront, even if Totti does not decide to return for the ‘important games’ against France and Ukraine in September.
"Italy has always provided great talents and will not cease to do that. We try to raise our young players in the best way possible and then take it from there."
Fabio Quagliarella admits he could not have asked for a better end to the season than bagging his first Italy brace. Although this was his third cap, the Sampdoria hitman had previously only played a handful of minutes at international level, but snatched both sensational goals in a 2-0 win in Lithuania on his first start.
"I tried to repay the faith that the coach and my teammates put in me. I tried to give my best and it went well. With two good goals I could not have asked for a better way to end the season," said Quagliarella.
Famous for some stunning strikes in Serie A, he also impressed in Kaunas with two splendid finishes. "I enjoyed the second goal more, as it was not easy to let it dip precisely where I wanted it to."
It was a vast improvement upon the 2-1 victory in the Faroe Islands on Saturday in the other Euro 2008 qualifier. "I think that today we proved that the performance against the Faroe Islands was not easy as our opponents clammed up, but this was much closer to the real Italy.
"The coach let us all relax, as we cannot always play to the best of our abilities, especially at the end of the season when the energy is flagging."
Francesco Totti’s return in September could push Quagliarella back out of the Azzurri starting XI, but he is not concerned. "If Totti returns then that can only be a good thing for the Nazionale. I just slowly try to work my way into some space here and earn the faith of the tactician."
He has also impressed with his versatility, as Quagliarella can play in wide midfield, as a second striker or even a centre-forward. "I have always played as a support striker, so that means cutting in and shooting. Walter Novellino tried me out in a wider role and I still scored a lot of goals from there.
"Unfortunately, towards the end of the campaign we were missing a lot of players so I had to be the centre-forward with my back to goal and that made it tricky for me. I try to adapt and do my best in any role where I am placed.
"Roberto Donadoni asked me to start wide and cut in to the centre for a shot or assist, but it is within my characteristics as well."
Already hot property on the transfer market after 13 Serie A goals, Quagliarella’s price-tag has just sky-rocketed after this performance. "I am on holiday from tomorrow and cannot wait to rest. There is time for the transfer market. I am on a co-ownership deal between Sampdoria and Udinese so that may be renewed. The important thing now is for me to play consistently."
[Match Report]
Croatia 3-1 Italy (Katerini, Greece)A Croatia comeback to beat Italy was not enough to take them or the Azzurrini to the finals of the UEFA European Under-19 Championships in Austria.
At kick-off in Katerini, both these teams knew a win would seal qualification as long as home side Greece did not defeat Sweden in Litochoro. However, Greece duly triumphed 4-0, and it is they who will be going to the finals.Italy looked usefully placed at half-time, as Fernando Forestieri had given them a 38th-minute lead and Greece were level at 0-0. But the hosts went ahead early in the second half and Croatia equalised on 69 minutes through Plumb Jusufi.Marin Ljubicic put Croatia in front ten minutes later and Vedran Turkalj sealed the win late on, but by then Greece were well ahead and Ivica Grnja's side were left to rue having only drawn their previous matches, though they did pip Italy to second place.The two nations will be matched again in the 2007/08 qualifying round.
6 June 2007: Lithuania 0-2 Italy (Kaunas)
Two spectacular first-half goals from Fabio Quagliarella gave Italy a comfortable win in Lithuania as they remained second in Euro 2008 qualifying Group B.
Coach Roberto Donadoni made five changes from the team that narrowly beat the Faroe Islands on Saturday, with Quagliarella among those brought in, and the Sampdoria forward repaid that confidence with strikes on 31 and 45 minutes.With this victory, the world champions go into the summer two points behind France and one ahead of Scotland.
The Azzurri started in confident fashion and could have taken the lead early on when Filippo Inzaghi was just unable to get on to Andrea Pirlo's cross. Shortly after, Simone Perrotta tried his luck from long range but his effort went high over the bar.Midway through the first half, Antonio Di Natale failed to find the finishing touch to Pirlo's clever pass. Lithuania almost scored themselves when Mantas Savenas's strike from outside the area took a deflection and flew centimetres wide of Gianluigi Buffon's far post. Yet Italy finally scored as Quagliarella worked his way past Igoris Morinas before driving a left-foot shot from the edge of the box beyond the reach of keeper Paulius Grybauskas.
Although Buffon did well to keep out both Mindaugas Kalonas's close-range effort and Marius Stankevicius's bullet free-kick, it was the visitors who found the net again before the break. Quagliarella controlled the ball inside the area before sending in a low strike. It proved a hammer blow for Lithuania. Italy went on to control the second half with Di Natale going close to a third on 58 minutes, although they did survive a late scare when Tomas Danilevicius's set-piece flashed over.Italy welcome France for a World Cup final rematch on 8 September when fifth-placed Lithuania are in Scotland.
[Azzurri Reaction][Group B Fixtures & Tables]
Italy have published their schedules for the European Under-21's tournament in the Netherlands next week. The six-time European champions play their opening game against Serbia on June 11.
06/06/07 - Squad meet-up and take part in two training sessions in Coverciano, Florence at 9.30am & 5.30pm (UK Time).07/06/07 - Two training sessions in Coverciano (9.30am & 5.30pm).
08/06/07 - Training in Coverciano in the morning (9.30am), then flight from Florence to Dusseldorf (3pm). The squad will be based at the Bilderberg Hotel de Buunderkamp in Wolfheze.
09/06/07 - Two training sessions (9.30am & 4.30pm) in the Sports Centre in Papendal.
10/06/07 - Training session at 9.30am in the Sports Centre in Papendal. Training at the De Goffert Stadium in Nijmegen at 4.30pm.
11/06/07 - First Group B match against Serbia (7.45pm) at the Goffert Stadium in Nijmegen.
12/06/07 - Two training sessions (9.30am & 4.30pm) in the Sports Centre in Papendal.
13/06/07 - Training session at 9.30am in the Sports Centre in Papendal. Training at the Gelredome Stadium in Arnhem at 4.30pm.
14/06/07 - Second Group B match against England (7.45pm) at the Gelredome Stadium in Arnhem.
15/06/07 - Two training sessions (9.30am & 4.30pm) in the Sports Centre in Papendal.
16/06/07 - Training session at 9.30am in the Sports Centre in Papendal. Training at the Gelredome Stadium in Arnhem at 4.30pm.
17/06/07 - Third/Final Group B match against Czech Republic (7.45pm) at the Gelredome Stadium in Arnhem.
Rest of the schedule will be confirmed during the tournament.[U21 Euro 2007 Championship Finals Schedule]
Italy 0-2 Greece (Litochoro, Greece)Greece moved to the top of UEFA European Under-19 Championship Elite round Group 2 with one match to go thanks to victory against Italy.
While the Azzurrini had begun their campaign on Friday with a 5-2 defeat of Sweden, mini-tournament hosts Greece had been denied three points against Croatia due to a late equaliser. But Greece secured a maximum haul in Litochoro as Dimitrios Siovas gave them a 61st-minute lead and Kostas Mitroglou made sure 13 minutes later.As the other match in the group was drawn, Greece know they will qualify for next month's finals in Austria by beating Sweden here on Wednesday. Italy, a point behind, need to overcome Croatia and hope Greece fail to win.
Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has blamed poor finishing for only beating the Faroe Islands 2-1 in Torshavn tonight, a result that moves the Azzurri into second place in Group B.
"We knew that this team could cause us problems if we failed to capitalise on our scoring opportunities and that is what proved to be true," said Donadoni. "Had we converted only a small percentage of the chances we had, we would have comfortably won this match by four or more.
"We didn’t run any risks apart from that one incident. The Faroe Islands gained in confidence the longer the game went on without too many goals against them and scored with their only opportunity."
Filippo Inzaghi bagged a goal in each half, but Rogvi Jacobsen’s header made it a nervous finale for the world champions. "If you don’t make the most of your dominance, then you can run into problems eventually. We had a bright start in the opening 20 minutes and then the tempo dropped, perhaps because we thought it was all a bit too easy," continued Donadoni.
"Without pace you can’t really break through, but even then we had plenty of chances with Alessandro Del Piero and Cristiano Lucarelli. We won the match and could really have scored more."
Double goal scorer Filippo Inzaghi has thanked his teammates for helping him to continue his remarkable period of form. "We knew it wasn’t going to be as easy as some people suggested. We had a good start despite the cold, rain and very strong wind, but we got the points and that is the important thing," said the striker.
"In the first goal I thought the ball was beyond me, but thankfully I managed to get a touch. This is a great time for me and I must thank my teammates for doing everything they could to help me. Andrea Pirlo’s pass was studied at Milan."
Gianluigi Buffon had to pick the ball out of the net and make a crucial late save in the Faroe Islands, so he complimented the amateur squad. "My compliments to the carpenter. Aside from our mistakes, I think they scored an excellent goal with great technique. Of course for others to impress you tend to have to give them a helping hand," said the ‘keeper.
"It wasn’t so much a lack of concentration as the motivation and tension that was missing leading up to the game. We didn’t have that spark in the air. We played well in the opening 20 minutes and then rather sat back after the goal."
Captain Fabio Cannavaro is upset at conceding in the Faroe Islands, but says it was his own men’s fault for losing focus. "These things happen. Obviously it never makes you happy to concede a goal, but we created plenty of chances and everyone was pushing forward to find the third, but that was a mistake as we lost concentration at the back," noted the defender.
"Pippo is a guarantee! He is in good shape physically, psychologically and has rediscovered his eye for goal. I am happy for him. We got three important points tonight, are second in Group B and must look at the positive aspects."[Match Report]
2 June 2007: Faroe Islands 1-2 Italy (Torshavn)
Two Filippo Inzaghi goals earned Italy victory in Torshavn although the Faroe Islands' Rogvi Jacobsen had the honour of scoring to unsettle the world champions, who nevertheless moved second in Group B with this win.Undeterred by persistent rain, the Azzurri were ahead after just 12 minutes through Inzaghi. Playing in his first international game since October, the striker controlled Andrea Pirlo's long ball from the left with his right foot under pressure from Jon Roi Jacobsen before sweeping it past goalkeeper Jakup Mikkelsen with his left.
Tommaso Rocchi almost doubled the Italian advantage two minutes later but his shot was deflected over the crossbar. Jogvan Martin Olsen's side regained their composure but did little to trouble Gianluigi Buffon, while at the other end Inzaghi sent a diving header just wide before the interval.
Inzaghi doubled his tally for the evening four minutes after the break, meeting Aimo Diana's cross from the right touchline with a far-post header which gave Mikkelsen no chance.
The goalkeeper earned considerable credit four minutes later, however, pushing a dangerous Pirlo free-kick on to the post. Cristiano Lucarelli, who had replaced Inzaghi, then missed a great chance to make it 3-0 as he collected Diana's through-ball but shot wide with only Mikkelsen to beat.
The home side rallied with Jon Roi Jacobsen heading fractionally over from a Suni Olsen corner before Rogvi Jacobsen went one better, beating Buffon with a low header to his left from a right-wing cross with 13 minutes left.
Del Piero should have put the game beyond the home side in the 89th minute, scooping wide from inside the area. Christian Lamhauge Holst then thudded a shot against Buffon as the Faroe Islands threatened an unlikely comeback, although there was still time for Del Piero to fire another effort over.
Lithuania beat Georgia 1-0 earlier today, but as France saw off Ukraine 2-0 in Paris, Italy leap into second place in Group B on 13 points behind Les Bleus on 15.
The Faroe Islands are yet to win a point in Group B but will take heart from their performance as they prepare to play Scotland at home on Wednesday, while the Azzurri travel to Lithuania in the same day.
[Azzurri Reaction][Group B Fixtures & Tables]
Italy 5-2 Sweden (Katerini, Greece)Italy got their bid for a first appearance in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in three years off to a fine start by twice coming from behind to score five against Sweden.
Sweden, who were eliminated by eventual winners Spain at this stage in last year's competition, were in front after just two minutes of their first Group 2 game in Katerini when Rasmus Elm found the net. The lead only lasted a minute before Paolo Carbonaro levelled but they soon found themselves behind again after Michael Almeback's goal midway through the half. Parity was restored before half-time however, when defender Denis Tonucci produced a second equaliser on 39 minutes.
If they had been behind for much of the first half, Italy turned things around after the break with three strikes that sealed three precious points. Parma midfielder Matteo Mandorlini, the son of former Internazionale player Andrea, gave Italy the lead for the first time on 58 minutes before Fernando Forestieri (87) and Michael Cia (90) extended the margin of victory.Italy will be hoping to build on the win when they meet mini-tournament hosts Greece on Sunday while Sweden next play Croatia the same day.
Group 1: Italy U21 4-0 Albania U21 (Pontedera)Pierluigi Casiraghi’s new Under-21 side got off to a glittering start to their Euro 2009 qualifying campaign, crushing Albania 4-0 in Group 1.
The Azzurrini began their two-year era while the ‘old’ squad is still preparing for the European Under-21 Championships in the Netherlands later this month.
Casiraghi fielded an all-attack 4-3-3 system at Pontedera’s Stadio Ettore Manucci with Giuseppe Rossi and Juventus starlet Sebastian Giovinco supporting Acquafresca.
The first goal for the next generation was netted by Treviso’s Robert Acquafresca, who got the final touch to Daniele Dessena’s cut-back from six yards. There were two desperate goalline clearances from the Albanians, but they could not stop a splendid strike from Dessena to make it 2-0. Genoa defender Domenico Criscito has made a name for himself in Serie B and will return to Juventus next season. He sealed the 3-0 going into half-time with a fortunate angled drive that squirmed under the body of the Albanian goalkeeper. Xhevair Sukaj’s shot off target was really the visitors’ only attempt in a first half that was utterly dominated by the Azzurrini.
Giovinco shone in his role supporting the centre-forward and brought a tough save out of Samir Ujkani straight after the restart, as well as firing just over and setting up several good chances. The fourth goal arrived eight minutes from time and once again Juve jewel Giovinco was involved. His assist sparked a classic counter-attack for Fiorentina’s new signing Arturo Lupoli.
Only in the final moments did Albania go anywhere close to troubling Andrea Consigli with a Gilman Lika free kick and deflected effort from the same player.The result leaves the Azzurrini top of Group 1 but its still early days.
Casiraghi can now lead the five-time European champions to the 2007 Finals which begin on June 10, 2007 in the Netherlands.GROUP 1 RESULTS:Croatia U21 2-0 Faroe Islands U21 (02/06/2007)
Greece U21 4-1 Azerbaijan U21 (02/06/2007)
Croatia U21 3-2 Greece U21 (06/06/2007)
Albania U21 1-0 Faroe Islands U21 (06/06/2007)GROUP 1 TABLE & FIXTURES:[Click Here!]
