ROME (ITALPRESS) – The France of Cherki and Tel, but also of Lazio’s Tchaouna and Bonny, Parma’s center forward summoned in place of Ekitike. That’s the test that awaits Carmine Nunziata’s Italy Under 21 tomorrow (4:15 p.m.) at the ‘Castellanì stadium in Empoli in what is the first of two friendlies in this national break. “France has a lot of talent and a very large squad. But I don’t feel envy: I have a strong team that has important values. The work was good, we trained well in these three days,” the Azzurrini coach said on the eve of the friendly against the Bleus. “Our philosophy remains the same: development from the bottom, ball of the game in hand and high pressure,” said Nunziata. “We want to continue on this path and improve our philosophy of play. Whether we are ready for a containment match? Every game has its own story, there will be times when we will have to defend and be compact. We will have to have intensity,” added the coach who has clear ideas about the 11 to be fielded first against France and then against Ukraine (test scheduled for Tuesday 19 at the ‘Alberto Piccò stadium in La Spezia). “In these two friendlies we will first see one formation and then another. I intend to have all the players play.” A way to try to test all the summoned players on this path leading to Euro 2025. There is no shortage of drawbacks, however. To the unavailability of Bove and Koleosho, two others were added: “Baldanzi and Zanotti, who are two important players, will not be in the match, but we do not want to risk and we want to give the players back in good condition to the clubs. They do not have serious things but I prefer to rest them,” Nunziata revealed. Among the players available is Pafundi, who reached Tirrenia after initially being called up with the National Under-20 team: “Simone is a boy who has great qualities at a technical level, in this period he has played little because of injuries. He is recovering, and it is right that he has a chance.” Interested spectator Luciano Spalletti: “We are all the same family, we work for the good of the Italia club. There is great harmony in trying to evaluate the boys well, many of them the coach has called them.” Last in order Fiorentina defender Pietro Comuzzo: “He deserved on the field the call of the national A team,” concludes Nunziata.- Photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
