Rome, Oct. 6 (LaPresse) – The United States will be the next opponents of Italy’s Under-20 national team, coached by Carmine Nunziata, current World Cup runners-up. The Azzurrini finished second in Group D with 4 points behind Argentina, who topped the group with a perfect record. The U.S. finished first in Group E with 6 points, tied with South Africa and France but ahead due to a superior goal difference in the head-to-head standings (+2).
Italy will face the United States on Thursday, October 9 (4:30 p.m. local time / 9:30 p.m. Italian time, live on Rai Sport) at the ‘El Teniente’ Stadium in Rancagua.
There is only one previous meeting between the two teams at the Under-20 World Cup, also in the round of 16. It was on June 21, 2005, at the Arké Stadion in Enschede — renamed De Grolsch Veste in 2008 — in front of 7,000 spectators. The Azzurrini, led by coach Paolo Berrettini, came from behind to win 3-1. After conceding a penalty goal to Hunter Freeman in the 44th minute, Italy turned the game around with goals from Daniele Galloppa (currently Fiorentina Under-20 coach) in the 54th, Graziano Pellè in the 62nd, and an own goal by Sacha Kljestan in the 75th.
Football: U20 World Cup, USA to face Italy in the round of 16
