Italy paid the price for poor finishing and a defensive error as the Under-21 side lost a friendly 1-0 to Denmark.
Both these nations have qualified for the European Under-21 Championship, which will be held in the Czech Republic in June 2015.
Italy paid the price for poor finishing and a defensive error as the Under-21 side lost a friendly 1-0 to Denmark.
Both these nations have qualified for the European Under-21 Championship, which will be held in the Czech Republic in June 2015.
The Azzurrini had the better of the first half in Matera, forcing several saves to deny Andrea Belotti, Domenico Berardi and Samuele Longo.
Hjulsager had the first real Danish chance of the game on the hour mark, but ballooned over the bar from a very promising position.
Marcello Trotta forced a fingertip save out of the goalkeeper from six yards as Cristian Battocchio pulled back from the byline.
It was Denmark who broke the deadlock in the final minutes. Sassuolo defender Luca Antei gave away possession in midfield to spark a counter, finished off by Nicolai Brock-Madsen’s angled drive.
Inter’s 17-year-old forward Federico Bonazzoli made his Under-21 debut and had a good chance, but his shot was straight at the goalkeeper, while Trotta’s acrobatic volley was deflected over the bar in stoppages.
This was the second friendly defeat of 2014 for the Azzurrini after a 2-1 in Romania in August.
In the European Championship, Italy will be in Group B along with England, Portugal and Sweden.
Denmark are in Group A with Serbia, Germany and the Czech Republic.
Italy 0-1 Denmark
Scorers: Brock-Madsen 82 (D)
Italy U21: Bardi; Zappacosta, Antei, Bianchetti, Biraghi (Murru 73); Viviani (Goldaniga 79), Crisetig, Dezi (Trotta 58); Belotti (Bonazzoli 84), Longo (Battocchio 57), Berardi (Benassi 73)
Denmark U21: Jensen; Scholz, Okore, Banggaard, Knudsen; Hjulsager (Norgaard 69), L V Christensen (J Andersen 46), A Christensen, Toutouh; Falk (J Jonsson 79), Berggreen (Brock-Madsen 46)