Official line-ups: Slovakia vs. Italy U21 European Championship
Italy bring in Cesare Casadei and Diego Coppola for their second European Under-21 Championship tie against hosts Slovakia.
It kicks off at the Anton Malatinsky Stadium in Trnava at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT, 21.00 CET).
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The Azzurrini opened their account with a 1-0 victory over Romania, which was sealed by a Tommaso Baldanzi goal and 'keeper Sebastiano Desplanches saving a penalty.
They are in Group A along with Spain and Romania, with the top two going through to the quarter-finals.
BOLZEN, ITALY – OCTOBER 17: Tommaso Baldanzi of Italy celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA U21 EURO Qualifier match between Italy and Norway at Stadio Druso on October 17, 2023 in Bolzen, Italy. (Photo by)
Coach Carmine Nunziata sticks with much of the same XI that opened the tournament, but makes two big changes.
Coppola and Casadei were initially rested, as they joined up late with the squad after participating in the World Cup qualifiers with the senior Italy team.
The Verona defender and Torino midfielder step into the starting XI now, sending Daniele Ghilardi and Luca Koleosho to the bench.
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This means Giovanni Fabbian is pushed into a more advanced role with Baldanzi in support of False 9 Willy Gnonto.
Nunziata had to improvise for the attack after losing top scorer Francesco Pio Esposito to injury for the competition.
LEEDS, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 10: Wilfried Gnonto of Leeds United lduring the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Rotherham United at Elland Road on February 10, 2024 in Leeds, England. (Photo by)
The most familiar face in the Slovakia Under-21 squad is Verona attacking midfielder Tomas Suslov, while Cagliari central defender Adam Obert also plays.
They opened their tournament with a hard-fought 3-2 defeat to Spain, capitulating only in stoppages.
Slovakia vs Italy official line-ups
Slovakia U21: Belko; Kopasek, Jakubko, Obert, Javorcek; Nebyla, Rigo, M Sauer; Marcelli, Suslov, L Sauer
Italy U21: Desplanches; Zanotti, Pirola, Coppola, Ruggeri; Casadei, Prati, Ndour; Fabbian, Baldanzi, Gnonto
Ref: Minakovic (SRB)
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