Italy’s Under-21 team blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Croatia on Monday evening.
Italy made the perfect start as Alessandro Bastoni’s header and a Manuel Locatelli [pictured] strike put them 2-0 up inside the opening 26 minutes.
However, Riccardo Orsolini’s failure to take a one-on-one was quickly followed by Milan loanee Alen Halilovic pulling a goal back with a long-range effort.
Italy’s Under-21 team blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Croatia on Monday evening.
Italy made the perfect start as Alessandro Bastoni’s header and a Manuel Locatelli [pictured] strike put them 2-0 up inside the opening 26 minutes.
However, Riccardo Orsolini’s failure to take a one-on-one was quickly followed by Milan loanee Alen Halilovic pulling a goal back with a long-range effort.
The comeback was then completed by Benfica defender Branimir Kalaica, although Patrick Cutrone missed a header from point-blank range in the latter stages.
The result means the Azzurrini have now won just two of their last nine games, with the European U21 Championship fast approaching.
Italy U21 2-2 Croatia U21
Bastoni 22, Locatelli 26 (I) Halilovic 58, Kalaica 77 (C)
Italy U21: Meret; Calabria, Bastoni, Bonifazi, Dimarco; Locatelli, Tonali, Mandragora; Orsolini, Cutrone, Parigini
Croatia U21: Posavec; Uremovic, Sosa, Sunjic, Kalaica, Katic, Bradaric, Basic, Jakolis, Halilovic, Bistrovic