Among the 20 players called up for Italy, four boys born in 2008 stand out to enrich this group already full of talent.
Our European journey began on Tuesday evening Under 17 in Cyprus; excellent start with a clear 2-0 win against Poland which already puts us at the top of Group C given the 0-0 draw between Sweden and Slovakia. Between Monday and Tuesday the 16 participants in the event took to the field and we were able to get an idea of all the selections. Today, however, we do not want to specifically analyze the other situations, but we wish to focus on a statistical fact which, starting only from the call-ups, places us almost at the top of a particularly interesting ranking: under-aged children.
Among the 20 players called up by the CT Honeycomb the names of four boys born in 2008 stand out: Alessandro Longoni, Andrea Natali, Thomas Campaniello and Francesco Camarda. By comparing ours with the squads of other national teams, we realized how only Croatia has brought more underage than us, arriving in Cyprus with five 2008 players, of which three started the first day against Austria and two substituted in the second half. In his debut against Poland, Mr. Favo immediately gave confidence to all his very young players at his disposal, lining up Longoni as the starter between the posts, Natali at the center of defense and Campaniello in attack; the only one excluded was Francesco Camarda, but only because he was unavailable due to disqualification.
These data may seem irrelevant to some, but in reality they have a very specific meaning: programming and planning. Giving the opportunity to deserving kids, already used to competing with the older ones during the season, to live an educational experience like the European Championships. Yes, because all four of the 2008 Azzurri are currently playing at an underage age with their respective clubs. Alessandro Longoni defends the posts of the Milan Under 17, Andrea Natali is growing in one of the most important youth sectors in the world, the Masia of Barcelona, playing in the “Under 18” with all his teammates born in 2007. In attack we find Thomas Campaniello, center forward of the ‘Empoli who is dividing himself between Under 16 and Under 17 and with him Francesco Camarda, the youngest debutant in the history of Serie Aas well as the current center forward of the AC Milan Primavera.
Being able to give continuity in the national team to what the clubs are doing with their best talents during the season is something that must be underlined and exalted. Experiences of this type in the baggage of a young footballer are very useful for growing and being ready at the right times, trying to anticipate the stages in the correct way without “wintering” within the youth sectors in the future. In the past we have happened to underline some choices that did not reward the development of young people in our football system, but in this case we can only highlight a situation which, if it were to be taken up again in the other selections, will certainly bring important benefits in the growth of the our best talents.
In our opinion, the direction to take is clear: when we talk about youth football we must place the development and growth of the boy before any type of result. The choice of our Under 17 certainly pursues this type of objective, as well as not precluding the possibility of making the most of high-level players, regardless of age.
We therefore hope that this courage will be rewarded and that it can take us as far as possible to the European Championships.