The Azzurrini are on the move again. The win against Poland secured qualification for the quarter-finals at the Tychy Stadium on Friday 7th June with kick-off at 18:30 CEST. The team will be based at Katowice, 500 kilometres south of Gdansk and Nicolato’s side covered the distance by bus in five hours. Before departure, those who didn’t play against Poland trained while the others had recovery work.

It was another side in which the side had to show its mental and physical toughness, going up against the home crowd. The match was lit up by Pinamonti’s chipped penalty and Alessandro Plizzari’s saves as he made at least three vital stops. So far, the team has been performing beyond expectations after the Coach was only named midway through May and it’s a side "Of great heart, the improves day by day

Clarification has arrived from FIFA regarding bookings. Tripaldelli, Alberico and Esposito have also picked up yellow cards to take the total to eleven and they will only be wiped after the quarter-finals and not the round of 16 as previously mentioned.

Round of 16 results 

Sunday 2 June

Italy 1-0 Poland

Colombia 1-1 New Zealand (5-4 on penalties)

Monday 3 June 

Uruguay 1-3 Ecuador 

Ukraine 4-1 Panama 

Senegal 2-1 Nigeria 

Tuesday 4 June

Japan vs. South Korea (17:30 CEST, Lublin Stadium)

France vs. USA (17.30 CEST, Bydgoszcz Stadium)

Argentina vs. Mali (20:30, Bielsko-Biala Stadium)