Under-21s: final test against Latvia tomorrow. Cecchetti: "Last chance to give everything"

The San Marino Under-21 National Team’s journey on the road to Euro 2025 comes to an end tomorrow. Matteo Cecchetti and his players are preparing to host Latvia, who sit second from bottom in the group but have 8 points to their name. Once again, they will look to feed off the energy of the San Marino Stadium, as they did a month ago against Türkiye, when a goal arrived in front of the home fans after a seven-year wait. So the head coach on the eve of the match: "The last match always brings a special emotional charge. Many of the lads know this will be their last time wearing this shirt, purely for age reasons. But we are all emotionally involved, also because you always build a certain emotional bond with the players. Over these two years we feel we have grown together. And we have shown that with our performances. Unfortunately, we have not always managed to be consistent over the full 90 minutes. But, just to give an example, against Türkiye we played an exceptional 20 minutes after Ciacci’s goal reduced the deficit, and we came close to a comeback on a couple of occasions. I always tell the boys: these things do not happen by chance, or as a simple reaction of pride. They happen because they are ready and because they are starting to become mature footballers. They must always be aware of that." Latvia were also in San Marino’s group in the previous two-year qualifying cycle. And at the Stadium it finished in a draw. "I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about it,” admits Cecchetti, “but I am also fully aware that this Latvia side is not the same as that one. Even, quite simply, because of the time of year we are facing them: back then it was March and they were at the start of their season. Today it’s October and the Latvian league is at matchday 32, so their players are at peak fitness. That said, the team has broadly kept the same core. We know they are the side closest to us technically, but it must also be said that in this group they have delivered some excellent performances and picked up a lot of points. I am sure they will not settle for what they have. In any case, we have to focus on ourselves. It is the last chance to put everything we have out on the pitch, and we will not end this match – or this two-year campaign – with regrets." Re-joining the group are players now involved with the senior National Team, but still eligible for the Under-21s: Fabbri, Giocondi and Valli Casadei. "I felt they were genuinely delighted to come back with us. All the Under-21 players who have moved up to the senior National Team over time know that they still fully belong to this group as well. They too, like the others, will put everything they have into the cause and I am convinced they will give us a big hand," the head coach concluded. Amici is suspended, while Matteoni returns. The appointment is tomorrow at the San Marino Stadium. Kick-off at 18:30, with free live coverage available on Titani.TV. Here are the players called up for this evening’s Official Training:

PLAYER	POSITION	DATE OF BIRTH	CLUB
MAGNANI MICHELE	Goalkeeper	12/09/2003	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
BATTISTINI MATTEO	Goalkeeper	12/07/2004	A.C. JUVENES-DOGANA
BORASCO FABIO	Goalkeeper	18/09/2005	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
TOMASSINI ALBERTO	Defender	19/02/2002	TRE FIORI F.C.
MATTEONI GIACOMO	Defender	11/04/2002	U.S. PIERTACUTA A.S.D.
GIAMBALVO ALESSANDRO	Defender	23/04/2003	SAN MARNO ACADEMY
GIOCONDI SIMONE	Defender	28/04/2002	TIVOLI CALCIO 1919
SANCISI MATTIA	Defender	13/04/2003	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
CIACCI MATTIA	Defender	30/12/2005	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
FABBRI FILIPPO	Defender	07/01/2002	///////
CIACCI FEDERICO	Defender	03/04/2005	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
GASPERONI SIMONE	Defender	31/10/2005	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
GUERRA ALBERTO	Midfielder	13/01/2004	TRE FIORI F.C.
D'ADDARIO NICOLA	Midfielder	21/12/2003	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
VALLI CASADEI MATTEO	Midfielder	01/06/2005	U.S.D. VANCHIGLIA 1915
PASOLINI FILIPPO	Midfielder	22/02/2003	A.C. JUVENES -DOGANA
SANCISI NICOLO'	Midfielder	13/04/2003	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
CHIARUZZI NICOLO'	Midfielder	28/10/2005	F.C. FIORENTINO
CASADEI MARCO	Midfielder	24/07/2006	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
FAMIGLIETTI TOMMASO	Forward	05/08/2005	S.S. PENNAROSSA
SANTI SIMONE	Forward	03/05/2004	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
GASPERONI MARCO	Forward	16/05/2004	SAN MARINO ACADEMY

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