UEFA U-21 Championships 2013: Italy look strong in experience and tradition

One year on from Euro 2012, the continent gets down to business once again when the future of European football assemble in Israel for the U-21 European Championships that gets underway on June 5, with hosts Israel taking on talented Norway in Netanya. With a plethora of young talent on show, elite European club scouts would be on hand to watch the matches in Israel. Among the participating eight teams, Italy boast of a fine mix of talent and experience that other sides, apart from defending champions Spain, might just be found wanting as the tournament progresses.

Italy head coach Devis Mangia (C) speaks to his players during an Italy training session at Milanello

Devis Mangia’s team go into the tournament clubbed with England, Norway and hosts Israel in Group A and his 23-man squad do have some notable names that have been capped by the senior squad over the past year or so. Italy are the most successful side in the competition’s history and would like to continue with the tradition and having failed to qualify for the 2011 finals, the Azzurrini are desperate to avoid the same mistakes. An impressive qualifying campaign, despite a change of coach midway through the qualifying round, in addition to recent friendly wins over Germany, the Ukraine and Russia has provided a timely momentum to the squad ahead of the finals.

With Cesare Prandelli’s Azzurri busy preparing themselves for a busy international summer of their own with an important World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic and a prestigious FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil set to be negotiated, the likes of AC Milan’s Stephan El Shaarawy and Mattia De Sciglio, both 20, are set to miss the U-21 championships due to their involvement with the senior squad. Yet the Azzurrini have full internationals like PSG’s Marco Verratti, Mattia Destro of AS Roma and Liverpool’s Fabio Borini who will add a lot of creativity and experience to the squad that will take on England on the opening night at the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv.

Verratti, 20, who has scored once in three outings at senior level, has not played for the U-21 side since 4th June 2012, when he was sent off in a 2-2 qualifying round draw with the Republic of Ireland, while Roma’s Mattia Destro also featured in the same game for Mangia’s team before being called to the senior squad by Cesare Prandelli. The 22-year old forward has gone on to be capped four times (three of them in the ongoing World Cup qualifiers), scoring in a 2-0 victory against Malta last September. Destro has a productive U-21 record, scoring five times in 14 appearances. Both these men would add valuable impetus to a side that could outrun and outwit Stuart Pearce’s England on June 5.

“They are both really enthusiastic about being with us and have already understood that our main strength is the group,” opined head coach Devis Mangia.

Apart from the experience front which Italy would be relishing going into this summer’s showpiece event in Europe, they have a certain Lorenzo Insigne in their ranks too who, no doubt, is destined to make it big in Italian football in years to come if all goes according to plan for the diminutive yet prodigiously talented Napoli forward. Insigne has been likened to a young Gianfranco Zola due to his flexibility on the football pitch and the way he plays a multiple role from being a creative attacking midfielder to a striker. No wonder Cesare Prandelli called him to the senior squad last September and the 21-year-old made his debut for the Azzurri against Malta. And had there been no European U-21 championships this summer, ‘El Pocho’ would have been a part of Italy’s Confederations Cup calculations. Nevertheless to say, Insigne would be a big hit in Israel as he has a prolific U-21 record, having scored five times in eight caps. Napoli had a fine season and the 5ft 3in Insigne scored five goals and chipped in with seven assists. With a summer of ferocious transfer activity predicted, new Napoli manager Rafael Benitez would hope to keep hold of the talented Italian at all costs as the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are reported to be keeping a close watch on the player for the upcoming season. Juventus’ Lucas Marrone, capped 31 times in the U-21 level and a key figure in the qualifying campaign, is another player to watch out for.

Lorenzo Insigne of Italy in action during an Italy training session at Milanello

Italy U-21 squad

Goalkeepers: Francesco Bardi (Novara Calcio), Simone Colombi (Modena FC), Nicola Leali (SS Virtus Lanciano 1924).

Defenders: Matteo Bianchetti (HellasVerona FC), Cristiano Biraghi (AS Cittadella), Luca Caldirola (Brescia Calcio), Marco Capuano (Pescara Calcio), Marco Crimi (US Grosseto FC), Giulio Donati (US Grosseto FC), Vasco Regini (Empoli FC).

Midfielders: Andrea Bertolacci (Genoa CFC), Alessandro Florenzi (AS Roma), Lorenzo Insigne (SSC Napoli), Luca Marrone (Juventus), Fausto Rossi (Brescia Calcio), Nicola Sansone (Parma FC), Riccardo Saponara (Empoli FC), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain FC).

Forwards: Fabio Borini (Liverpool FC), Mattia Destro (AS Roma), Manolo Gabbiadini (Bologna FC), Ciro Immobile (Genoa CFC), Alberto Paloschi (AC Chievo Verona).

Note: The Uefa U-21 European Championship matches are live on Neo Prime and Neo Sports and the telecast starts on June 5(IST)