The Italy Under-19 National Team drew 2-2 with the Netherlands and put on a show for the crowd in Fiorenzuaola D’Arda. It was an open game with the Azzurrini leading at the break thanks to an early goal from Juventus’  Nicolò Fagioli before the Dutch came back to equalise twice in the second half. The Netherlands side played according to Dutch traditions, showing great technique and organisation.

Italy took the lead early on. Four minutes had gone by when Bouah picked out Fagioli with a great cross and he was able to finish instinctively. Italy managed the game well and took the lead into the break. In the second half, the Dutch levelled in the 56th minute through Timber who pounced on a loose ball in the Italy box before finding the net. Bollini’s side kept their heads up and retook the lead just two minutes later. Fagioli provided the assist this time, setting up Juventus player Elia Petrelli to head in. In the 75th minute, Bayern Munich’s Zyrkzee equalised again for the Netherlands after beating the offside trap and going clean through against Brancolini.

Alberto Bollini was very satisfied after the match: “It was a very good game, I saw my guys give everything as they looked to play good football,” the Coach said. “In the first 30 minutes, we were perfect at both ends while in the second, we always wanted to compete with one of the strongest opponents around who already four or five games in their legs this season. It was a real test and I’m very, very satisfied.”

Preparations continue ahead of the first stage of European qualification which will be between 13 and 19 November with Italy hosting Slovakia, Cyprus and Malta. Work will continue in Colorno where Italy will face Switzerland on Monday in the second friendly.

Line-up (4-3-1-2). Brancolini, Bouah, Okoli, Gozzi Iweru, Bonini; Gyabuaa, Rovella, Fagioli; Riccardi (C); Petrelli, Piccoli.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Federico Brancolini (Fiorentina), Alessandro Russo (Sassuolo);

Defenders: Nicolò Armini (Lazio), Federico Bonini (Virtus Entella), Devid Eugene Bouah (Roma), Giorgio Brogni (Atalanta), Paolo Gozzi Iweru (Juventus), Michael Ntube (Inter), Memeh Caleb Okoli (Atalanta), Fabio Ponsi (Fiorentina);

Midfielders: Luca Chierico (Roma), Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus); Davide Ghislandi (Atalanta), Jean Freddi Greco (Torino), Manu Emmanuel Gyabuaa (Atalanta), Daniel Maldini (Milan), Alessio Riccardi (Roma), Nicolò Rovella (Genoa);

Forwards: Gianmarco Cangiano (Bologna), Elia Petrelli (Juventus), Roberto Piccoli (Atalanta), Eddie Anthony Mora Salcedo (Verona), Alessandro Cortinovis (Atalanta), Edoardo Vergani (Inter).