Under-21: Latvia up next, Cecchetti calls on the fans

After the trip to Budapest, the Under-21 National Team is set to make its first home appearance of 2022. Tomorrow, Matteo Cecchetti – also making his first home debut, in this case an absolute one in his new role – will welcome, together with his young Biancoazzurri, Latvia, the team closest to San Marino in the Group B standings. The Baltic side won the reverse fixture 2-0 and head coach Cecchetti, who at the time was Costantini’s assistant, has a very clear idea of which mistakes must not be repeated and where the opponents’ weaknesses may lie: "We expect to face a very physical team. In the first match they beat us by exploiting counter-attacks. Together with the boys we are preparing very well for this important return fixture. We must not repeat the mistakes that cost us in Riga. We are planning a match based on the aspects that make our opponents most uncomfortable: for example, forcing them to manage possession or to hold a high defensive line. We came away from the game against Hungary aware that we had put in a good performance. The statistics bear that out. We stayed in the game very well, aside from about ten minutes in the second half. I would say we paid dearly for our opponents’ exceptional finishing on the night." The good news for tomorrow is that De Angelis will be available, after suffering a heavy blow to the face during the match in Budapest. And Simone Franciosi will also be there, who after his spell with the senior National Team – and having served his suspension on Thursday – is once again fully eligible for the Under-21s: "I had a fantastic experience with the senior National Team and I will make the most of it. Now, however, I am fully focused on tomorrow’s match. We must not repeat the same mistakes we made in the first leg. It will be an important game, against a team that is close to us in the table. If they make mistakes, we will have to be very good at capitalising on them. I am really looking forward to wearing this shirt again, even more so considering that we will be playing at home. Home advantage will be a plus for us and we must be ready to make it count." Speaking of the San Marino Stadium, coach Cecchetti ended his eve-of-match chat by calling on the fans, who were so important last Friday for the senior National Team: "For us, tomorrow’s match will be a difficult one, and I invite all Sammarinese, all football lovers, all registered players in the youth sectors and the teams of the Campionato Sammarinese to come and support us. Having full stands would make all the difference. Come and cheer on these lads, help them to achieve something special and fulfil a dream!" The match will be shown live on San Marino RTV (channel 831 on digital terrestrial), on RTV Sport and on the website www.sanmarinortv.sm, with the signal geo-blocked to San Marino. Kick-off is at 20:30. Here is the list of 23 players – to be reduced to 20 – selected by head coach Matteo Cecchetti:

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