Under-21: the Titans return to the Stadium for the Turkey clash

With the Italy chapter now closed – and with it the away fixtures – the Under-21 National Team returns to home turf for the penultimate match of the European qualifiers. Their opponents tomorrow at 20:30 will be Turkey. Head coach Cecchetti takes stock of his squad’s status: "I have to say we come into this fixture in good shape, in the sense that we are aware of having done many things the right way, and for long spells, against Italy, despite a scoreline that at a certain point got away from us. It has to be said that we spent a lot of nervous energy against Italy, perhaps even on the eve of the game, but that’s absolutely normal when the average age of the group is as low as ours. Physically, however, there have been no after-effects, and that is very good news. Nicolò Sancisi underwent tests which revealed no problems, so he will be fully available tomorrow. Matteoni is out through suspension, but there are other lads who will have the chance to show their worth. The team is calm and relaxed, and is certainly ready to bring onto the pitch what it knows how to do. And to do it in the best possible way." In Istanbul it finished 5-0 to Turkey, a scoreline padded out only at the end by a rampant Yardimci, who scored a hat-trick in six minutes. Between the posts was Pietro Amici, who in the 5th minute saved a penalty from Destan, only for the latter to pounce on the rebound. "It’s a pity about the goal on the rebound, but I was very happy to have saved a penalty and, overall, with my performance, which I hope to repeat tomorrow. We start again from the first half we played against Italy and in particular from those 35 minutes that preceded the Azzurri’s opener. Tomorrow’s match will be the penultimate fixture of the biennium before we face Latvia at home in a month’s time. Our job is to think one game at a time and to do our best every time we step onto the pitch. What do I expect from tomorrow? Certainly that we will give everything, aiming for something tangible such as scoring or getting a result. You always go into a match with those objectives." A result the senior National Team achieved only a few days ago, and at this very Stadium. An event that has generated a wave which the Under-21s can certainly ride as well. "I sincerely hope that the enthusiasm generated by that victory by the senior National Team can drive and motivate the lads tomorrow - this is the CT’s wish - Both President Tura and head coach Cevoli have underlined how that is a result that concerns everyone. And it’s true: we are all part of a major project aimed at the good of the senior National Team. And there is no doubt that the Under-21 National Team has also played its part. Just think that at this moment there are 13 players of Under-21 age who are involved with the senior National Team. That is a source of pride. My boys must take all of this as a further incentive to do well and to give the best of themselves. Preparing for this match with Turkey simply means starting again from those shouts of joy that still echo around these walls (the interview is conducted in the Stadium dressing rooms, ed.). It’s extra fuel for continuing to do what we are already doing." As mentioned, kick-off at the Stadium is at 20:30 tomorrow. Live coverage of the match is available on Titani.TV. Here are the head coach’s call-ups:

PLAYER	POSITION	DATE OF BIRTH	CLUB
BORASCO FABIO	Goalkeeper	18/09/2005	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
AMICI PIETRO	Goalkeeper	27/01/2004	F.C. FOSSOMBRONE 1919
TOMASSINI ALBERTO	Defender	19/02/2002	S.S. TRE FIORI F.C.
GIAMBALVO ALESSANDRO	Defender	23/04/2003	SAN MARNO ACADEMY
SANCISI MATTIA	Defender	13/04/2003	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
CIACCI MATTIA	Defender	30/12/2005	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
RICCARDI ALBERTO	Defender	01/10/2006	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
CIACCI FEDERICO	Defender	03/04/2005	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
GUIDI MATTEO	Defender	15/01/2003	F.C. YOUNG SANTARCANGELO
TERENZI LUCA	Defender	10/05/2004	S.C. FAETANO
GASPERONI SIMONE	Defender	31/10/2005	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
CERVELLINI TOMMY	Midfielder	04/08/2006	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
TOCCACELI ALEX	Midfielder	16/01/2002	LA FIORITA 1967
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
DOLCINI ANDREA	Midfielder	14/04/2003	F.C. FIORENTINO
SANTI SIMONE	Forward	03/05/2004	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
GASPERONI MARCO	Forward	16/05/2004	SAN MARINO ACADEMY
PIERINI JULIAN	Forward	12/12/2005	U.S. PIETRACUTA A.S.D.

 

---