The Italy Under-21 squad is gearing up for a critical match against Slovakia Under-21 in the U21 European Championships. Following their victory against Romania, the Azzurrini are looking to secure their spot in the knockout stages. However, defender Daniele Ghilardi warns against complacency, emphasizing the strength and organisation of all teams in the tournament.
Slovakia Looking to Rebound
Slovakia, hosting the tournament, suffered a narrow defeat to Spain in their opening match. Despite rallying from a two-goal deficit to level the score, a late goal from Spain condemned them to defeat. The Falcons need a positive result against Italy to keep their hopes of advancing alive.
Italy's Winning Start
Italy secured a hard-fought victory against Romania, thanks to a goal from Tommaso Baldanzi and a penalty save from Sebastiano Desplanches. The Azzurrini dominated possession and created numerous chances, showcasing their attacking prowess. Ghilardi played a key role in the victory, initiating the move that led to Baldanzi's goal.
- Italy beat Romania 1-0.
- Slovakia lost to Spain 3-2.
Ghilardi's Perspective
"The opening match is crucial for building early momentum," said Ghilardi in an interview with the FIGC website. "We wanted to win and did it so. We didn’t concede and could’ve scored more. We were a bit unlucky, hitting the post twice, but no complaints." He acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming match against Slovakia, stating, "It won’t be an easy match, especially since, as we saw yesterday, all the teams here are strong and well-organised."
Knockout Stage Implications
If Italy defeats Slovakia and Romania fails to beat Spain, Italy will secure their place in the quarter-finals with a game to spare. This would allow them to focus on securing the top spot in their final match against Spain.
Prediction
While Slovakia will be determined to bounce back, Italy's quality and winning momentum give them the edge. Expect a tightly contested match, but Italy should emerge victorious.