Italy fumbled an early lead to lose 2-1 in the European Under-19 Championship semi-final against England, forcing several saves, but beaten by two headers on corners.
Just by reaching the semi-finals, Italy had already secured their place in next year’s Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia, despite missing perhaps the three best players in the squad – injured Marco Carnesecchi, plus Willy Gnonto and Giorgio Scalvini not released by their clubs.
The Azzurrini harassed goalkeeper Matthew Cox into an early error with their high press, from which Fabio Miretti’s free kick forced a sensational fingertip save.
There was also a save on Ambrosino, but Brooke Norton-Cuffy’s clumsy touch saw him bring down Miretti for a penalty. Juventus midfielder Miretti converted himself, the first goal England had conceded in this tournament.
Sebastiano Desplanches was fortunate to only get a booking as he rushed off his line and collided with Alfie Devine just outside the penalty area. He then had to make a tough save on Harvey Vale’s deflected free kick.
Giovane made a desperate block on Devine unmarked at the back post, but England equalised with a powerful Alex Scott header on a corner.
England started to pin Italy back, a Jamie Bynoe-Gittens curler denied by Desplanches at full stretch, but Tommaso Baldanzi also forced a save at the other end after a strong run.
Italy did not learn from the first goal and conceded the second from a corner too, flicked on to find Jarell Quansah totally unmarked at the back post.
Baldanzi almost equalised deep into stoppages, but was denied by Cox rushing off his line to block one-on-one, then a fantastic volley from Baldanzi was fingertipped out from under the bar.
On the counter as Italy poured forward, Daniel Oyegoke should’ve scored for England, but tried to go it alone and was denied by Desplanches.
The other semi-final is between France and Israel.
England 2-1 Italy
Miretti pen 12 (I), Scott 58 (E), Quansah 82 (E)
Typical losers
We rarely qualify to the U20 so I guess this is better than previous times.
U21 is historically our strong suit.
Conceded on two corners very amateurishly. Both goals could’ve easily been avoided.
With Scalvini and Gnonto this team would’ve been in the final right now.
What is going on with italian football so poor
These kids barely play with Their teams respectively so what do u expect as an outcome. The majority of them are farmed out their entire youth career in lower leagues and you can see It when they play. Italian soccer is self destruction right in front of us.
Typical BS fans and armchair tacticians…
When they win, they did just what you each said, we should revere you…
When they lose, Italian football is in disarray because they dont do what you say…
This happens at all levels…
What a bunch of losers you all are
That’s very english to score from a set piece.Very unlucky Italia.
All goals count, don’t matter where they come from, and Italian football is in disarray, when ever they are under the high press they collapse sadly