The Under-20 National Team are set to play their final group game of the World Cup after already qualifying for the last 16 in Poland: at 18:00 CEST on Wednesday 29 May the Azzurrini will come up against Japan as they look to secure top spot in the group. Davide Bettella has arrived in Bydgoszcz and joined up with the team ahead of the match: “I’m happy to now be here with my teammates,” said the Pescara defender. “Even if this has unfortunately come about after my team’s elimination from the play-offs.” Bettella has made his way through all the youth National Teams and was also involved in the Under-19 European Championship last year, through which Italy qualified for the World Cup. “Everyone knows each other – we’ve developed together since playing for the Under-15s.”

This has played a huge role in the two wins that the Azzurrini have picked up in their first two games against Mexico (2-1) and Ecuador (1-0). These were both very competitive, physical games, and a number of changes will probably be required so that the team can recover ahead of the last 16 stage, when the games become knockout clashes. Possible suspensions also need to be taken into account: Italy have seven players one booking away from missing the next match. FIFA rules state that any yellow cards picked up will be wiped out after the last 16.

“The moment has come to demonstrate that we have players up to the task to dealing with this situation, players with the right ambition and the desire to achieve important results,” said Head Coach Paolo Nicolato ahead of Wednesday’s showdown. Italy only need a draw to finish first in Group B. If they were to achieve this, they would faced a third-placed side from one of the Groups A, C or D. “We’ll take to the pitch to play the best we can and try to win,” Nicolato continued. “It won’t be easy because we’ll be up against a very quick and well-organised side.”

As for Japan, they drew against Ecuador 1-1 and beat Mexico 3-0 last time out. They’ve shown themselves to be a fit and good technical side, and they’ve also scored two headers over these two games through Tagawa and Miyashiro. In the World Cup in South Korea two years ago, the match between the Azzurrini and Japan finished 2-2, a result that would guarantee the latter’s safe passage through to the next round tomorrow. However, history shows that they never give up, and they will no doubt be aiming to finish ahead of the Azzurrini at the top of the group.

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

Standings: ITALY 6 points, Japan 4, Ecuador 1, Mexico 0

Matchday Three (29 May)
18:00: Ecuador vs. Mexico (Gdynia)
18:00: ITALY vs. Japan (Bydgoszcz)

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