Luigi Bruins, Hedwiges Maduro, Ismail Aissati, Otman Bakkal, Dirk Marcellis, Geert-Arend Roorda. Apart from Roorda they're quite good players at this level

Isn't Maduro too old for the U21's now? I know he and Aissati, Marcellis and Bruins are particularly good at this level, I don't really know Bakkal and Roorda.

Italy were without Sebastian Giovinco, Lorenzo De Silvestri, Fabio Santocroce and Robert Acquaefresca off the top of my head who are all usually starters or in the 16, so it wasn't their strongest team either, Giovinco is particularly a big miss but generally it seems the Italy squad was at more full strength.
Anyway the important thing is the groups, Italy are top of theirs and I assume Holland must be as well, I don't agree with this silly playoff feature to qualify though, top should qualify automatically.

It was reported that Maduro had to cancel for this game but yes he is over 21. But isn't there some date before which a player has to be born...
Haven't seen much of Roorda but he regularly plays for Heerenveen who are doing quite well in the league. Bakkal, is a good player, a good finisher who was very important at the last U21 Euros

Yes, I recognise Bakkal now having Googled his image, the one with the silly hair

Yes the players have to be born before a certain date, I'm not sure when it is I just wondered whether Maduro was past that age or not.

Can't say I know anyone in either squad other than Rossi and Drenthe.

Not even Montolivo of Fiorentina or Sno of Celtic?

Most of them wouldn't make the senior team anyway. Donk will probably make it, Vormer is quite talented and Amrabat is an exiting player, although he seems to be a bit of a troublemaker

Does he still play for Brescia?

Yes, he will be there at least until the end of the season. If they get to Serie A he will probably stay but he could have joined Palermo or Sampdoria in the recent past, he should play in Serie A really. Brescia have a good chance to go up, they are quite big spenders and have just signed Andrea Caracciolo.

http://it.eurosport.yahoo.com/calcio/serie...08/classifiche/

He's got a lot of time ahead of him, and he does need to refine quite a bit of his overall attributes, but he is a good keeper.

He needs to command his area better, for someone of that size it should come to him.

I was just looking at Brescia's squad actually now you mentioned that, it's ridiculous really, should be top of the league:

Viviano (best Italy goalie at U21 level)
Stankevicius (best defender in Serie B imo)
Caracciolo (€7m buy, was on fringes of Italy squad)
Martínez (solid defender at Serie A level)
De Zerbi (fantasista who was excllent in B last year with Napoli)
Tacchinardi (yes, the Juve one)
Possanzini (bit past his best now but still a good attacker)
Bazzani (ex-Samp striker with Italy caps, still only 31)
Szetela (yep, the USA 'wonderkid')
Bega (experienced defender with good Serie A pedigree)
Lima (Brazilian ex-Roma & Bologna midfielder now back from Russia at 36)
Vass (young Hungarian striker who was at Stoke)

And others like Mareco, Zoboli, Taddei, Arcari and Zambelli who have been at the club for a number of years, and with Serse Cosmi in charge, they should be walking the league!

European Under-21 Championship qualifier - 25/3/08 (17.00 UK)

Azerbaijan 0 - 2 Italy

G Rossi 18, pen 63 (I)

Republic Stadium, Baku

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Giuseppe Rossi bagged a brace as Italy’s Under-21 side return from Azerbaijan with a 2-0 victory.

The former Manchester United and Parma starlet netted twice in the Republic Stadium in Baku to confirm their leadership in qualifying Group 1 for the 2009 European Championships with seven wins and a draw.

Rossi wanted a penalty in the opening three minutes, but the referee waved play on. Empoli hero Sebastian Giovinco was as lively as ever, earning free kicks all over the field.

His corner found a Robert Acquafresca header that had to be cleared off the line early on, while Consigli was careful to beat away an Amirguliyev strike.

Rossi broke the deadlock after 18 minutes when he ran on to Giovinco’s searching pass and smashed a left-foot finish past Umarov.

Acquafresca was unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet after several chances, including a follow-up to Marco Motta’s saved effort that was disallowed for an offside position. The Cagliari striker went off with a bruised right ankle in the second half.

Rossi and Daniel Pablo Osvaldo went close before goalkeeper Umarov brought down Giovinco, allowing Rossi to convert the penalty.

Azerbaijan did not give in and Dashdemirov just failed to connect with a Javarov cross as he came sliding in and Javarov’s shot was tipped over the bar by Consigli.

Motta threatened a third for Italy, his finish deflected out for a corner, while the local goalkeeper just about managed to keep out a cheeky Giovinco lob from midfield.

Claudio Marchisio and Giovinco could have made it 3-0 in stoppages on the counter, but the Empoli forward was cut short by a cynical Abishov foul.

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Azerbaijan U21: Umarov; Medvedev, N Mammadov, Abishov, Abdullayev; A Mammadov (Magivel 81), Novruzov (Nadirov 58); Dashdemirov (Amiraslonov 77), Amirguliyev, E Mammadov; Javadov

Italy U21: Consigli; Motta, Marzoratti, Bocchetti, De Ceglie; Dessena (Morosini 64), Cigarini, Marchisio; Giovinco, G Rossi (Pisano 69); Acquafresca (Osvaldo 54)

Ref: Radovanovic (Mne)

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ita...u21aze-ita.html

Another solid performance, not a great deal to get excited about although Giovinco was as lively as always. Rossi is deadly and should be a top class full international footballer in a couple of years, so you always think the Azzurrini will score with him in the side.

Rossi should be in the full squad now, too bad he doesnt play for the USA

Someone agrees with you: http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ita...blogs/rg18.html

Donadoni is a dope who leaves out DP, and Rossi?

Sebastian Giovinco dragged Italy’s Under-21 side to a win over the Ivory Coast in their Toulon Tournament opener, but it could’ve been a different story.

Pierluigi Casiraghi’s Under-23 side triumphed 2-0 in their first warm-up game ahead of August’s Olympics in China.

But playing so shortly after the climax of the season, the Italians looked sluggish on a hot afternoon in the south of France in a game that had been rescheduled to avoid clashing with the Champions League Final.

However Giovinco showed why he is regarded as one of Italy’s most exciting prospects when he turned the game on its head.

After an encouraging start, the Ivory Coast took charge of the first half and were awarded a highly dubious penalty for a shirt pull.

But Empoli goalkeeper Davide Bassi was the hero as he saved a powerful, albeit central, spot-kick with his body.

Fussy refereeing and sloppy passing thwarted the Azzurri with AZ Alkmaar forward Graziano Pellè proving profligate, but Siena’s Daniele Galloppa and Palermo-bound captain Antonio Nocerino impressing.

Casiraghi looked frustrated as the half-time whistle sounded with his team fortunate to be level.

The second half proved equally scrappy, but Italy got their breakthrough courtesy of Juventus starlet Giovinco.

The diminutive forward reacted quickly to a flick-on from Pellè and poked the ball home in the 65th minute.

And Giovinco completed a match-winning brace with a low free-kick from long range, which went through the goalkeeper with 17 minutes remaining.

Substitute Lanzafame's well-hit strike was saved in the closing stages after another assist from Pellè and Lazio stopper Lorenzo De Silvestri also came close.

Italy must now face the USA and Turkey in their remaining Group B fixtures.

Turkey beat the USA 3-2 last night, while Chile thrashed France 5-3 and Japan edged out Holland 1-0.

Italy Under-21: Bassi; Motta, Coda, Dellafiore, De Silvestri; Galloppa (Guarente 71), Nocerino, Cigarini (Candreva 77); Giovinco, Osvaldo (Lanzafame 66), Pellè

Italy:



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Seba really was the standout player again, he is just a joy to watch and I can't wait to see him next season. They even called him 'Juve superstar Giovinco' in the Eurosport commentary

However the game wasn't as easy at the scoreline suggests, Ivory Coast are a good team at this level and they matched Italy in a lot of areas. The penalty they missed was very poor, I think I would have saved it, but after Giovinco's instinctive finish and long-range freekick Italy ran the midfield really, with the Ivory Coast only really threatening in individual spells.

Pleased to see a strong Italy teams do well, nice to see Lanzafame come on as well, and next up for the Azzurrini is a talented young Turkish side with Nuri Sahin in their ranks.

Goals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ce4G3lQVZ8

The goalkeeper screwed up on the freekick. I could have scored that aswell. But it was a solid run from Seba for the first goal for sure.

Yeah the FK caught him out, looking forward to seeing Seba and the boys play against a strong Turkey side. Seba didn't even play that well but scored twice.

Italy's Under-21 side have made it three wins out of three at the Toulon Tournament with a comfortable 2-0 triumph over the USA.

Having already overcome the Ivory Coast and Turkey, Italy came into this game with a place in the final four already assured and Coach Pierluigi Casiraghi took the chance to change the formation.

Sebastian Giovinco and Empoli teammate Ignazio Abate played behind Pablo Daniel Osvaldo in attack, while Venezia goalkeeper Enrico Alfonso was given the gloves.

Juve-owned wizard Giovinco was the star of the show once more and he nearly set up Abate for an opener, but his effort fizzed just wide.

It was Osvaldo who inspired the first goal as his incisive ball dropped to Abate and the former Milan youth coolly tucked it away.

Soon after, it was 2-0 when Giovinco found Osvaldo whose pinpoint ball was easily poked home by Parma’s Daniele Dessena.

Siena star Daniele Galloppa impressed again and nearly made it three with an effort that went agonisingly wide, but the game was more than safe.

Italy now face Japan in the semi-final on Tuesday May 27, which will probably be played at 7.45pm.

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We have such a great youth team, honestly. Galloppa is one to watch. Giovainco cant help but beign watched, he is going to be brilliant for Juve next season. hopefully we give him the time on the park he deserves, if we do he will be a shoe in for the Azzurri squad for WC2010. This guy could be brilliant.

Oh well, lots of nations have good youth teams and the kids do well but that doesn't necessarily mean they will step up.

I mean back in the day Everton had that talented kid, Cadamarteri, but he never made it afterwards.

Yer i remember him. He had injuries didnt he?

Youth success doesn't equate to future success, but Italy rarely take these sort of tournaments seriously so I don't think the standard has chanegd so much than recent years with players such as Pirlo standing out at the more highly contested U21 tournaments.

It is nice to see Casiraghi take Toulon seriously, but I'm not kidding myself, he is using this as a stringent warmup for the Olympics.

However you can't not be impressed with some of the players in this side, Giovinco is the standout whether you are a Juventino or not, but also Galloppa, Marchisio and others look to have great futures.

I watched all three games so far, and also saw Japan v France and I think Italy can definitely beat Japan even though as a footballing nation they have come very far and are on their way to becoming a force imo.

Interestingly Morimoto of Catania is up front for Japan, so that will be a nice contest for the Azzurrini defence.

Giovinco has looked brilliant. Smallest player on the pitch but by far the best.

Italy are spot on in Toulon Wednesday 28 May, 2008


Pierluigi Casiraghi’s Azzurrini side are through to the Final of the Toulon Tournament, but they had to rely on penalty kicks to see off Japan.

Italy’s Olympic warm-up has been going according to plan and Casiraghi’s men were confident after three wins from three in the Group stages in France.

However, Japan posed a serious threat and ensured that it was a nervy evening for their more illustrious opponents.

Catania striker Takayuki Morimoto looked dangerous and Empoli goalkeeper Davide Bassi had to continue his impressive form to deny him in a one-on-one.

Diminutive Juventus playmaker Sebastian Giovinco was on inspirational form again, but Italy couldn’t find a breakthrough.

Davide Lanzafame thought he deserved a penalty when he was brought down in the box towards the end of the 90 minutes, but the game went to extra-time.

Substitute Graziano Pellè looked sharp before the best chance fell to Udinese’s Antonio Candreva, but his header was a whisker away with the goalkeeper beaten.

And so it went to spot kicks and Casiraghi’s side gave a virtuoso display from 12 yards.

Salvatore Bocchetti, Ignazio Abate, Luca Cigarini, Candreva and Giovinco all converted to seal a 5-4 win and a Final date against Chile on Thursday evening.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/may28b.html

Japan are a tough side to break down, like the full side they have great stamina and got behind the ball but Italy deserved to get through.

I always thought Chile would get to the final having watched them so far, but they were extremely lucky to get past Ivory Coast in the other semi final, the Africans dominated them in possession and chances and they are far better going forward than they are in defence. I think Italy can get a lot of joy from the Chile defence and win the game and tournament, but at the other end they have some very good attacking players such as Morales and the Udinese-bound Villanueva.

Italy’s Under-21 side have won the Toulon Tournament for the first time after a deserved 1-0 win over Chile in last night’s Final.

Having won three from three in the Group stage and squeezed past Japan in the semi-finals on penalties, Pierluigi Casiraghi’s men were confident of lifting the silverware.

And a sliding strike from Fiorentina striker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo midway through the second period proved enough to ensure that the Azzurrini’s preparation for the Olympic Games stayed on the right track.

Inspired by Juventus starlet Sebastian Giovinco, the Italians dominated from start to finish and managed to play some superb football in spite of a sodden playing surface.

Osvaldo looked dangerous on several occasions in the first half and came close within the first 10 minutes.

And the marksman of Argentine descent hit the tournament winner when impressive captain Antonio Nocerino fed Daniele Dessena whose ball sat up perfectly for him to skid in and poke home past Cristopher Toselli.

Minutes later, Atalanta’s Tiberio Guarente nearly put the game beyond doubt when he struck the post.

Chile mounted a spirited late charge and rattled the post through Gonzalo Jara in stoppage time, but Casiraghi’s men prevailed and reigned supreme in Toulon.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/may30a.html

Chile have been a good side in this tournament, but I think Italy have clearly been the best side and were also in the final.

Chile have a lot of midgets in their side who are all good on the ball but Italy were physically more developed, stronger in defence, had the best goalkeeper in the tournament (Bassi), the best midfielder of the tournament (Nocerino) and the overall best player (Giovinco) along with several others of real quality. The conditions were awful and actually didn't suit players like Giovinco as such, but it's nice to see them taking this seriously, and hopefully they can do well at the Olympics.



Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ign2IuVl_88

Inter's teenage star Mario Balotelli has received his first Italian call-up as he is included in Pierluigi Casiraghi's Under-21 squad.

Balotelli officially became an Italian citizen on August 12 when he turned 18 and he had hoped to be called up for the Azzurri's friendly against Austria.

But the former Lumezzane marksman has had to settle for selection in Casiraghi's squad to face Greece and Croatia in European Championship qualifiers.

Casiraghi is trying to get back on track after the disappointment of the Olympic Games where Italy were knocked out by Belgium in the quarter-finals.

The other new faces in the Azzurrini squad are Roma centre-back Marco Andreolli, who will spend next season on loan at Rimini and young Fiorentina goalkeeper Andrea Seculin.

The group will meet at the Hilton Hotel near Rome's Fiumicino Airport on Tuesday September 2 before travelling to their camp in Castel Di Sangro.

They face Greece on September 5 there before travelling to Croatia on September 9.

Italy Under-21 squad:

Goalkeepers: Consigli (Atalanta), Seculin (Fiorentina), Sirigu (Ancona)

Defenders: Andreolli (Roma), Bocchetti (Genoa), Criscito (Genoa), De Ceglie (Juventus), Marzoratti (Empoli), Motta (Udinese), Pisano (Cagliari), Ranocchia (Bari)

Midfielders: Bolzoni (Inter), Candreva (Udinese), Cigarini (Atalanta), Dessena (Sampdoria), Giovinco (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Morosini (Vicenza), Russotto (Napoli)

Strikers: Acquafresca (Cagliari), Balotelli (Inter), Lanzafame (Palermo), Osvaldo (Fiorentina)

The midfield and attack is pretty frightening for U21 level, hopefully some of these younger defenders can keep improving as well because after Chiellini there needs to be another top class one coming through.

Santacroce would be there but for injury IIRC , but there are several around like Marzaoratti, Ranocchia, Bocchetti and even Criscito if he strengthens and gets games.

Acquafresca and Pisano are out injured, Michele Paolucci and Daniele Capelli replace them.

A question re Balotelli, how come he isn;t an Italian citizen, he was born in Italy, no?

Because his adoption was never lawfully finalized, so he was never legally an Italian citizen.

U21: Azzurrini qualify in Croatia

A 1-1 draw in Croatia proved to be enough for Italy to reach the European Under-21 Championship play-offs.

Following the disappointing 1-1 home draw with Greece, Italy knew they had to pick up at least a point in Croatia to be sure of pipping them to the top of the group. It was entirely plausible that a defeat would also send them to the play-offs as one of the best runners-up, but Pierluigi Casiraghi had no intention of taking that risk.

Daniele Dessena and Brezovec had early shots from distance, but Parma youth Dessena just failed to make contact with a Mario Balotelli cross.

Italy had the advantage from set plays and, after Sebastian Giovinco’s first corner directly towards the net was punched away, the Juventus youngster curled another on to the head of Marco Motta after 37 minutes.

After the restart Giovinco had a great chance to secure qualification, but ballooned over despite springing the offside trap.

Consigli saved an Ipsa header and a low drive, but he was beaten when the Azzurrini defence was caught napping just seven minutes from time. A Kulusic free kick seemed harmless enough, but slipped in to the net to create a tense finale.

Casiraghi and assistant manager Gianfranco Zola – probably in his last game before taking over at West Ham – threw on Francesco Bolzoni for Giovinco in a bid to protect the point. Ilicevic nodded off target from a promising position in stoppages and Italy clung on for the result they needed.

The play-offs will be in October between the 10 group winners and four best runners-up. The draw for the play-offs is in Malmo on Friday and the competition proper is from June 15 to 29, 2009 in Sweden.

Croatia 1-1 Italy

Scorers: Motta 37 (I), Kulusic 82 ©

Croatia: Kelava; Simek (Vida 46), Kulusic, Ipsa; Ilicevic, Ljubicic (Tomasov 46), Pamic; Badelj, Brezovec (Krizman 63); Smrekar

Italy: Consigli; Motta, Andreolli, Criscito, De Ceglie; Dessena, Cigarini, Marchisio, Candreva (Morosini 75); Giovinco (Bolzoni 84), Balotelli (Osvaldo 60)

Ref: Ennjimi (Fra)

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sep9t.html

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They really made hard work of the group in the end after a good start, but deserve to be in the playoffs. It'll be interesting to see who they get but whoever it is they will be strong and it will be whoever plays better at that time who will go through but I have confidence in this group. It's a shame that they don't have automatic qualification.

Italy draw Israel in the playoffs. Kind draw I think although no team is poor who made it this far.

Pierluigi Casiraghi has selected his Under-21 squad to face Israel in a European Championship qualification play-off.

Italy's youngsters topped Group 1 and are now just 180 minutes away from booking their place in Sweden next summer.

But standing in their way are a dangerous Israel side that finished second to Germany in Group 9, and are something of an unknown entity.

There are no real surprises in Casiraghi's 23-man squad, which again includes Inter's Mario Balotelli.

Italy Under-21 squad:

Goalkeepers: Consigli (Atalanta), Seculin (Fiorentina), Sirigu (Ancona)

Defenders: Andreolli (Sassuolo), Bocchetti (Genoa), Criscito (Genoa), De Ceglie (Juventus), De Silvestri (Lazio), Marzoratti (Empoli), Motta (Udinese), Pisano (Cagliari)

Midfielders: Bolzoni (Inter), Candreva (Livorno), Cigarini (Atalanta), Dessena (Sampdoria), Giovinco (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Morosini (Vicenza), Abate (Torino)

Strikers: Acquafresca (Cagliari), Balotelli (Inter), Lanzafame (Palermo), Osvaldo (Fiorentina)

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/oct3g.html

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I know Israel are a growing football nation but with that squad Italy have to be reaching the finals, anything other than qualfication is a failure regardless of the opposition.

I think Italy will take the overall tie by a two goal margin.

I want to see this team:

Casiraghi is now without Balotelli due to injury as well as losing Giuseppe Rossi to the senior side, so Italy will be light up front.

Another one goes down. De Ceglie sprained his ankle during training, the docs aren't sure that he'll recover in time.

There should still be enough there, hopefully.

Italy stumbled to a 0-0 draw against Israel.

The second leg looks even tougher now, already missing Balotelli and De Ceglie there are also suspensions to Marchisio, Giovinco, Dessena as well so this will now be tough.

Actually looks like Balotelli and De Ceglie maybe will be fit for the second leg, but missing the others plus Andreolli due to injury and suspension, I hope Italy will line up;

The Azzurrini are up 2-0 at half time, Super Mario with both.

Toto Tamuz pulls one back.

3-1 Italy. Nearly finished this one.

FT 3-1, Italy go through to the finals.

U-21: Azzurini's Euro fortune



Italy's Under-21 side have received a favourable draw for their 2011 European Championship qualification campaign.

Pierluigi Casiraghi's men are currently preparing for this summer's European Championship in Sweden.

But they have already received their opponents for the next edition of the competition.

The Azzurrini were drawn in Group 3 alongside Wales, Hungary, Bosnia and Luxembourg.

The winners of each group qualify move forward as do the four best runners-up.

The qualification process begins on March 28 and 29 and concludes on September 7, 2010.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/feb4l.html

Hungary and Wales are competitive teams at this level of the game and will push Italy all the way but it has been a nice draw to avoid another major nation, and it would be disappointing if Italy don't win the group.