Italy have officially qualified for the 2021 European Under-21 Championship, as Gianluca Scamacca’s brace paved the way for a 4-0 win in Luxembourg.
A victory here was enough to guarantee top spot in the group ahead of Iceland and qualification for the final phase of the Euros in 2021.
It was, inevitably, one-way traffic from the start and Scamacca stung the goalkeeper’s gloves, and he then chested down and scored on the volley from the resulting corner. It was the Genoa striker’s first Azzurrini goal in over a year.
Italy have officially qualified for the 2021 European Under-21 Championship, as Gianluca Scamacca’s brace paved the way for a 4-0 win in Luxembourg.
A victory here was enough to guarantee top spot in the group ahead of Iceland and qualification for the final phase of the Euros in 2021.
It was, inevitably, one-way traffic from the start and Scamacca stung the goalkeeper’s gloves, and he then chested down and scored on the volley from the resulting corner. It was the Genoa striker’s first Azzurrini goal in over a year.
Scamacca soon added another with his header from six yards, as the goalkeeper had been beaten by a Davide Frattesi cross from the right.
Edin Osmanovic risked an own goal sliding onto a Marco Sala cross, as it looped just over the bar. Andrea Pinamonti came on for the second half and should’ve scored, but redirected a low cross wide from fellow substitute Gianluca Frabotta.
The Inter centre-forward didn’t make the same mistake twice, as when another Frabotta cross came in hard and low from the left, flying just beyond Scamacca, Pinamonti was ready to fire in the Raoul Bellanova lay-off.
Riccardo Marchizza got his first U21 goal with the outside of the left boot, drilling in a knockdown from just inside the penalty area.
Luxembourg 0-4 Italy
Scamacca 15, 29 (I), Pinamonti 56 (I), Marchizza 66 (I)
Luxembourg: Ottele; Dzogovic, D’Anzico, Osmanovic, Schmit; Latic, Duriatti (Ostrowski 87); Schaus (Bernardy 70), Prudhomme, Avdusinovic (Rossler 78); Curci (Coopmans 78)
Italy: Carnesecchi; Marchizza, Gabbia, Del Prato; Bellanova (Frabotta 46), Pobega (Ricci 46), Rovella, Frattesi (Maleh 87), Sala; Scamacca (Raspadori 78), Sottil (Pinamonti 46)
Ref: De Gabriele (MLT)