Italy Under-21 have secured qualification for the European Under-21 Championship, which will be played next summer. The team also have friendly matches scheduled against France on Friday November 13 and Belgium on November 16.
Players promoted to the senior squad
Several Italy Under-21 players have been promoted to the senior squad for the final two Nations League games against France and Belgium. They include Milan forward Alphadjo Cisse, Como’s Mattia Liberali, Parma striker Simone Lontani and Crystal Palace defender Honest Ahanor.
Three players already stepped up
Brentford talent Michael Kayode, Sporting midfielder Issa Doumbia and Roma’s Niccolò Pisilli had already made the step up to the senior squad.
Baldini returns to his main role
Silvio Baldini had been the interim Italy coach for two games when Gennaro Gattuso resigned in the wake of the World Cup play-off failure, but returned to his main role with the Under-21 side.
Baldini said: “Youth is vital for our football, and I embraced this role with so much enthusiasm. I also want to thank the media, because you spoke a lot about the fact Italian football was in a tunnel, and the only way to get out of it was to make reforms and have more courage in using young players.”
