GisthubArena Italy have made several changes as they face Patrik Schick’s Czech Republic, bringing in Alex Ferrari, Davide Calabria, Alberto...
GisthubArena
Italy have made several changes as they face Patrik Schick’s Czech Republic, bringing in Alex Ferrari, Davide Calabria, Alberto Grassi and Danilo Cataldi.
It kicks off at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT) in Tychy.
This is the second match in the European Under-21 Championship Group C, as the Azzurrini beat Denmark on Sunday evening with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Andrea Petagna goals.
As Germany also beat the Czech Republic 2-0, it’s perfectly balanced at the top of the group.
Gigi Di Biagio said he would make changes to the line-up and has completely revamped the midfield, bringing in Atalanta’s Grassi and Lazio youth product Cataldi.
Alex Ferrari of Bologna and Milan full-back Calabria shake things up in defence.
Despite an excellent impact coming on as a substitute, including an assist, there’s still no room in the starting XI for Fiorentina’s Federico Chiesa.
The star of the Czech Republic is without doubt Sampdoria hitman Schick, who has already agreed a €25m move to Juventus this summer.
Schick was top scorer in qualifying for the Euros with 10 goals in just nine games.
Jakub Jankto is familiar to Serie A viewers thanks to his excellent campaign for Udinese, scoring five goals with four assists, while he has three goals in just four Under-21 caps for his country.
The Czech Republic comfortably topped their qualifying group with a five-point margin, even when losing the penultimate match to Belgium.
Antonin Barak was injured for the Germany game with a hamstring problem, but is back on the bench today.
Goalkeeper Lukas Zima is owned by Genoa. He joined the Grifone in 2011 and had loan spells at Reggiana, Venezia, Mantova and Perugia.
These sides have met nine times before at Under-21 level and never shared the spoils with three Czech victories and six for the Italians. The Azzurri scored 17 goals and conceded 10.
The most important clash was undoubtedly the final of the European Under-21 Championship on June 4, 2000. Italy emerged victorious 2-1 in Bratislava, beating the hosts with an Andrea Pirlo brace.
Only the group winners are guaranteed access to the semi-finals. As Italy and Germany both won their opening games 2-0, goal difference could prove decisive in the end.
Czech Republic: Zima; Havel, Luftner, Simic, Holzer; Hubinek; Hasek, Travnik, Soucek, Jankto; Schick
Czech Republic bench: Vejmola, Macej, Havlik, Sacek, Julis, Barak, Chory, Necas, Stronati, Cerny, Sevcik, Kasa
Italy: Donnarumma; Conti, Ferrari, Rugani, Calabria; Grassi, Cataldi, Pellegrini; Berardi, Petagna, Bernardeschi
Italy bench: Cragno, Scuffet, Barreca, Cerri, Caldara, Biraschi, Benassi, Garritano, Gagliardini, Chiesa, Locatelli, Pezzella
It kicks off at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT) in Tychy.
This is the second match in the European Under-21 Championship Group C, as the Azzurrini beat Denmark on Sunday evening with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Andrea Petagna goals.
As Germany also beat the Czech Republic 2-0, it’s perfectly balanced at the top of the group.
Gigi Di Biagio said he would make changes to the line-up and has completely revamped the midfield, bringing in Atalanta’s Grassi and Lazio youth product Cataldi.
Alex Ferrari of Bologna and Milan full-back Calabria shake things up in defence.
Despite an excellent impact coming on as a substitute, including an assist, there’s still no room in the starting XI for Fiorentina’s Federico Chiesa.
The star of the Czech Republic is without doubt Sampdoria hitman Schick, who has already agreed a €25m move to Juventus this summer.
Schick was top scorer in qualifying for the Euros with 10 goals in just nine games.
Jakub Jankto is familiar to Serie A viewers thanks to his excellent campaign for Udinese, scoring five goals with four assists, while he has three goals in just four Under-21 caps for his country.
The Czech Republic comfortably topped their qualifying group with a five-point margin, even when losing the penultimate match to Belgium.
Antonin Barak was injured for the Germany game with a hamstring problem, but is back on the bench today.
Goalkeeper Lukas Zima is owned by Genoa. He joined the Grifone in 2011 and had loan spells at Reggiana, Venezia, Mantova and Perugia.
These sides have met nine times before at Under-21 level and never shared the spoils with three Czech victories and six for the Italians. The Azzurri scored 17 goals and conceded 10.
The most important clash was undoubtedly the final of the European Under-21 Championship on June 4, 2000. Italy emerged victorious 2-1 in Bratislava, beating the hosts with an Andrea Pirlo brace.
Only the group winners are guaranteed access to the semi-finals. As Italy and Germany both won their opening games 2-0, goal difference could prove decisive in the end.
Czech Republic: Zima; Havel, Luftner, Simic, Holzer; Hubinek; Hasek, Travnik, Soucek, Jankto; Schick
Czech Republic bench: Vejmola, Macej, Havlik, Sacek, Julis, Barak, Chory, Necas, Stronati, Cerny, Sevcik, Kasa
Italy: Donnarumma; Conti, Ferrari, Rugani, Calabria; Grassi, Cataldi, Pellegrini; Berardi, Petagna, Bernardeschi
Italy bench: Cragno, Scuffet, Barreca, Cerri, Caldara, Biraschi, Benassi, Garritano, Gagliardini, Chiesa, Locatelli, Pezzella
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