It's a case of ‘mission complete’ for the Under-20 National Team in Poland. In Bydgoszcz, Paolo Nicolato’s Italy side had to dig in against Japan before eventually getting the point that they needed to finish top of Group B. As was the case against Ecuador, Italy had to rely on their goalkeeper to deny the opposition from the penalty spot: this time it was Carnesecchi who came to the rescue in the first half. This was a vital draw to avoid some big names in the last 16. Coming out on top of this group is no mean feat given the calibre of the teams involved. Now, at 17:30 CEST on Sunday 2 June at the Gdynia Stadium, Italy will face one of the third-placed teams from Groups A, C or D.

The Azzurrini finished the group stage today against Japan, who were fully on track to qualify for the last 16 coming into the game following their win against Mexico. This was a victory that put an end to a poor spell for the Japanese: prior to this result, they had drawn two and lost seven of their previous nine matches. Before today’s game, Japan and Italy’s Under-20s had met each other twice since 2000, with the Azzurrini having won once on penalties. In the other clash, the two sides played out a 2-2 draw in the World Cup in South Korea two years ago.

Today’s game gave Nicolato the chance to make a number of changes, both to rest players and to ensure that those on the verge of suspension didn’t pick up further bookings. Seven players were one yellow card away from missing out on the Azzurrini’s match in the last 16: Pellegrini, Ranieri, Gabbia, Scamacca, Capone, Bellanova and Delprato. Only after the final-16 stage will these cards be wiped out.

Davide Bettella was available for selection after joining up with the side following Pescara’s defeat in the play-offs. He lined up in defence alongside Tripaldelli, Candela and Buongiorno, with Carnesecchi being chosen between the sticks behind them. Alberico, Colpani and Frattesi started in midfield, while Olivieri, Gori and Capone were chosen as the trio up front.

When the match kicked off, Japan came close on a number of occasions in the first half. The biggest chance for Kageyama’s side came when they were awarded a penalty after nine minutes as Buongiorno brought down Tagawa in the box. However, Ito was denied from the spot by Carnesecchi, who followed the ball’s trajectory well to make the save – as Plizzari did against Ecuador three days ago.

There was little by way of attacking threat from Nicolato’s side in the first half. But in the second half, they came close through Colpani’s free kick and then through Olivieri, with Wakahara having to be on hand to save Japan.

As the match was drawing to a close, the Azzurrini managed the ball well and ran very few risks, thus securing a 0-0 draw. Nicolato’s side have finished the group stage on seven points, two ahead of Japan and three ahead of Ecuador, who defeated Mexico 1-0 in the other game.

It was a dogged performance from the Azzurrini, who once again displayed the strength of the group in addition to the individual talent they possess: “We changed everything, but our spirit didn’t change,” said the Head Coach after the match. “Despite making nine changes and also changing our formation, the lads responded well. The spirit that sets them apart has remained unchanged: this spirit consists in demonstrating the determination to stay in the competition until the very end.”

World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Alessandro Plizzari (Milan), Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Leonardo Loria (Juventus);
Defenders: Luca Pellegrini (Cagliari), Alessandro Buongiorno (Carpi), Alessandro Tripaldelli (Crotone), Luca Ranieri (Foggia), Matteo Gabbia (Lucchese), Raoul Bellanova (Milan), Davide Bettella (Pescara), Antonio Candela (Genoa), Enrico Delprato (Atalanta);
Midfielders: Salvatore Esposito (Ravenna), Davide Frattesi (Ascoli), Domenico Roberto Alberico (Hoffenheim), Andrea Colpani (Atalanta);
Forwards: Gabriele Gori (Livorno), Marco Olivieri (Juventus), Gianluca Scamacca (Sassuolo), Andrea Pinamonti (Frosinone), Christian Capone (Pescara).

Staff – Delegation Head: Massimo Paganin; National Teams Co-ordinator Maurizio Viscidi; Head Coach: Paolo Nicolato; Assistant Coach: Mirco Gasparetto; Secretary: Fabio Ferappi; Fitness Coach: Vincenzo Pincolini; Goalkeeping Coach: Matteo Mareggini; Match Analyst: Francesco Bordin; Doctors: Matteo Vitali and Luca Labianca; Physiotherapists: Nicola Sanna and Andrea Mangino; Nutritionist: Alessio Colli.

World Cup groups
Group A: Poland, Colombia, Tahiti, Senegal
Group B: Mexico, ITALY, Japan, Ecuador
Group C: Honduras, New Zealand, Uruguay, Norway
Group D: Qatar, Nigeria, Ukraine, United States of America
Group E: Panama, Mali, France, Saudi Arabia
Group F: Portugal, South Korea, Argentina, South Africa

Group B fixtures and results (all times CEST)

Matchday One (23 May)
18:00: ITALY 2-1 Mexico
20:30: Japan 1-1 Ecuador

Matchday Two (26 May)
15:30: Mexico 0-3 Japan
18:00: Ecuador 0-1 ITALY

Matchday Three (29 May)
18:00: Ecuador 1-0 Mexico (Gdynia)
18:00: ITALY 0-0 Japan (Bydgoszcz)

Standings: ITALY 7 points, Japan 5, Ecuador 4, Mexico 0

N.B. The top two from each group plus the four best third-placed teams will qualify for the last 16