The day continues well with blue hues. The Elite League of the Under 20 National Team, in fact, starts in the best possible way. In Znojmo, Bernardo Corradi’s Azzurrini beat their Czech peers 2-1, the first stage of a journey that will take the 2005-born boys – recent protagonists in the Under 19 European Championship in Northern Ireland – to play the final phase of the World Cup in their category in Chile. The Azzurrini will be back on the pitch on Tuesday 10 September at 4pm at the ‘Centro d’Italia-Manlio Scopigno’ stadium in Rieti (free admission) against Germany.
Italy, lined up with Presta and De Pieri up front supported by Zeroli, started off strongwith Harder stealing the ball from Hamza, but finding the response of goalkeeper Vitek. In the 16th minute, another chance for the Azzurrini with a diagonal shot from Sardo, which ended up wide of the Czech goal. Italy’s lead came in the 38th minute at the end of a persistent move, with the ball landing at Lipani’s feet: from 25 meters, the captain kicked towards Vitek’s goal, with the ball bouncing in front of the Czech number 1 before ending up in the net.
Corradi’s first changes in the second halfwho at 58′ inserted Di Maggio, Vavasori, Anghelè and Ciammaglichella in place of Sardo, Presta, De Pieri and Lipani. And it was precisely two new arrivals, Di Maggio and Ciammaglichella, who created the action for the doubling at 64′, with the Perugia midfielder (on loan from Inter) who served a golden assist to the Torino player, who coolly put the ball behind Vitek again. In the final, the Czech reaction was inevitable: first Buryan (also coming on in the second half) hit the crossbar, then 10 minutes from the end came the goal from Masek, who halved the disadvantage. Italy, however, still managed to take home the first 3 points of a competition already won in the last 3 editions.