UNDER-21 SCENE

Sixth Sense

After Italy’s triumph at the World Cup a year ago, the focus this summer will be on the Under-21 side. Steve Wilson looks at the chances of Pierluigi Casiraghi’s Azzurrini lifting their sixth European crown

Italy have a real challenge this summer in the European Championship Under-21 Finals – an event they have dominated since 1992, winning five of the last eight outings and reaching at least the last four of over half the tournaments held since 1976. This time, however, they must overcome a group packed with real quality – England, the Czech Republic and Serbia are all previous winners, even if the latter’s glory came under the banner of Yugoslavia – if they are to snatch a sixth title. The competition has plenty of pedigree, with the likes of Roberto Mancini, Zinedine Zidane, Rudi Voller, Davor Suker, Luis Figo, Raul and Eric Cantona having played at the event down the years. Italy kicked off a hat-trick of wins in 1992 before letting the crown escape them in 1998. They lifted their fourth title in 2000, were runners-up to the Czechs two years later before taking the trophy again in 2004. A disappointing campaign last summer in Holland has left them eager to bounce back this time. Such is the growing prestige of the event, the organisers have switched it to run on the years intervening the full European Championship and World Cup, in the hope of also further boosting its standing in the eyes of the footballing public. The holders, Holland, will host the showpiece event and are again likely to be potential semi-final opponents for Pierluigi Casiraghi’s men – along with Portugal, unless Belgium or Israel can cause an upset. Fiorentina’s Riccardo Montolivo has been the outstanding performer for Casiraghi. In the group stage of qualifying his goals earned 1-0 victories over both Austria and Iceland and in the play-off against Spain he was also on target, along with Giorgio Chiellini, as the Italians earned a 2-1 aggregate win to book their place in the summer finale. The Viola magician will be key to any success for Italy as his position is as the vital deep-lying playmaker in the 4-1-41 system that Casiraghi favours. Ahead of Roma custodian Gianluca Curci will be Juve’s Chiellini, Inter’s rising star Marco Andreolli, captain Alessandro Potenza, also of Fiorentina, and

Chievo’s Andrea Mantovani. Antonio Nocerino, Juve-owned but on loan at Piacenza, regularly holds the defensive midfield role while Montolivo is joined in the centre by the likes of Bianconeri man Raffaele Palladino, Alessandro Rosina of Torino and Parma’s Giuseppe Rossi. Giampaolo Pazzini is likely to have sealed his role as the sole striker following his treble at Wembley in the friendly with England. Fortunately for the Azzurrini, they have plenty of depth beneath that crop of first team starters. Cesena’s Graziano Pelle and Nicola Pozzi of Empoli have both been given chances up front, while Andrea Coda leads the experienced defensive reserves and Parma’s Daniele Dessena and Piacenza’s Andrea Lazzari provide ample back-up for the midfield, while Roma sensation Alberto Aquilani’s recovery from injury should allow him to play a vital role at the Finals. “It will be a wonderful experience and a great honour for us to compete at this event,” said Casiraghi. “Both

Giuseppe Rossi will be the Azzurrino most familiar to England's Under-21 squad this summer

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groups are similar in competitiveness because they both include four teams with great qualities. I don’t believe anybody is the favourite at the moment.” Casiraghi may not believe in picking a front runner, but neutral observers will surely have earmarked an Italy-Holland finale as the obvious outcome. Holland have been there and done it, having won last summer’s event in Portugal. They will be without Milan target Klaas-Jan Huntelaar of Ajax – who has graduated to Marco Van Basten’s full international squad – although throughout their line-up they have some real talent, including former Arsenal striker Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and PSV Eindhoven-owned wonderkid Ismail Aissati. But for all the talent on show in the Dutch and Italian squads it will be down to their two Coaches to instil the desire and tactical nous to lead them to glory. That may be what gives the hosts the edge, as their boss, Foppe de Haan, already has one European title
under his belt while Casiraghi, and his assistant Gianfranco Zola, are still relative rookies at this level. “It is harder to be a Coach than a player,” explained the former Lazio and Juventus striker. “When you play, there is only one thing you have to worry about, to give your best for 90 minutes. As a Coach it is 24/7, you have to think about the team, the training and the games. This is my first time in such an important tournament, but I will just enjoy it and think of it as a great experience.” You can be sure that Casiraghi will want to enjoy the competition, but beneath the friendly exterior he will have a steely resolve to keep up Italy’s proud traditions at this level – and nothing but a sixth trophy will suffice.

Giampaolo Pazzini already has three goals against England this year

Roll of Honour 1978 Yugoslavia 1980 Soviet Union 1982 England 1984 England 1986 Spain 1988 France 1990 Soviet Union 1992 Italy 1994 Italy 1996 Italy 1998 Spain 2000 Italy 2002 Czech Republic 2004 Italy 2006 Holland

CALENDARIO EUROPEAN UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS Group A June 10 Holland - Israel Heerenveen Portugal - Belgium Groningen June 13 Israel - Belgium Heerenveen Holland - Portugal Groningen June 16 Belgium - Holland Heerenveen Israel - Portugal Groningen

Group B June 11 Czech Republic - England Arnhem Serbia - ITALY Nijmegen June 14 Czech Republic - Serbia Nijmegen England - ITALY Arnhem June 17 Czech Republic - ITALY Arnhem England - Serbia Nijemegen

June 20 - Semi-finals Heerenveen/Arnhem

June 23 - Final Groningen

Dutch youngster Ismael Aissati has experience against the veterans of the Italian game

Riccardo Montolivo will be Italy’s star man and playmaker

GROUP B Italy Coach: Pierluigi Casiraghi – ‘Il Bisonito’ has had relatively little experience as a Coach since finishing his playing career with Chelsea back in 1998. A stint as Monza youth Coach and a brief spell as Legnano boss in Serie C2 was all he had on his CV when he was handed the Azzurrini job in 2006. Former Chelsea teammate Gianfranco Zola acts as the 37year-old’s assistant. Star man: Riccardo Montolivo – The Fiorentina ace, dubbed ‘the new Andrea Pirlo’, will pull the strings for the Azzurrini and if he can produce his best then a run to the Final looks inevitable. One to watch: Giuseppe Rossi – Giampaolo Pazzini may have made the headlines at Wembley, but Rossi’s Serie A form suggests he will be the danger man in front of goal. Colours: Blue shirts, white shorts, blue socks. Czech Republic

Having qualified for the first time since winning the event in 2002, the Czechs will be looking to make an impression similar to the likes of Petr Cech and Milan Baros five years ago. Though they boast few household names, their water-tight defence should be put under less strain thanks to a free-scoring attack. Coach: Ladislav Skorpil Star man: Tomas Frejlach – A crucial element of the midfield who is also able to weigh in with his fair share of goals. One to watch: Michal Kadlec – Young rightback whose father captained the senior side in the Euro ’96 Final against Germany. Colours: Red shirts, white shorts and blue socks. England Winners in 1982 and 1984, it’s been over two decades since they have even reached the semifinals. However, the current crop of junior Three Lions are largely Premiership regulars so there are plenty of experienced heads on young shoulders. Coach: Stuart Pearce Star man: David Bentley – The Blackburn Rovers winger can whip in a mean cross, while he is also deadly from free-kicks. One to watch: Gabriel Agbonlahor – Pacy striker who is hoping to cap off a fine season in which he has been one of Aston Villa’s star men. Colours: White shirts, blue shorts and white socks. Serbia One of the most flexible sides in the competition, equally comfortable playing 4-4-2, 4-5-1 or 4-33. Won the competition in 1978 before finishing runners-up twice, including in 2004. They are also an experienced outfit, with four of their key men having played in that near miss three years ago. Coach: Miroslav Djukic Star man: Bosko Jankovic – The man who makes the side tick, the Mallorca ace will regularly drop deep to link the play. One to watch: Milos Krasic – Big things are expected of the playmaker, who has been likened to Juventus’ Pavel Nedved. Colours: Red shirts, blue shorts and socks.

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