Italy Under 21 avalanche with Sweden: Francesco Camarda rewrites history

Italy Under-21 team was relentless in Cesena against Sweden’s peer group. Silvio Baldini’s Azzurrini won 4-0 at the end of a dominating match that makes qualification for the European Championships to be held in 2027 closer. Great protagonists were Nicolò Pisilli, who scored a brace, Tommaso Berti, who sealed the match from the penalty spot, and especially Francesco Camarda, who rewrote history thanks to his goal from the penalty spot.

The class of 2008 striker, currently at Lecce but still owned by Milan, scored the goal of Italy&#8217s momentary double at 40′. He did so by converting with a “spoon” a penalty he had earned himself by being fouled by Makolli. Well: no one had ever scored a goal with the Azzurri Under-21 team at his age. Camarda, who turned just 17 last March 10, thus becomes the youngest Azzurrino of all time to have scored.

Already in the 2′ minute of the match, moreover, Camarda had frightened Sweden with a conclusion from which only a corner kick resulted. Italy then was also dangerous in the first few minutes with Bartesaghi and Ndour, before the lead was realized on 12′ by a rapacious Pisilli, who was good at intercepting a stray ball and discharging it into the goal with a conclusion from the distance.

Before Camarda doubled the score, the same Pisilli made himself very dangerous on at least a couple of other occasions (on one of them it was the post that stopped him), then in the midst of the recovery he came close to scoring twice with a shot that was just wide and finally found it when the clock marked 48′: his splendid shot under the crossbar after a drumming action by the Azzurrini on the right flank. Sweden at the beginning of the second half seemed to show timid signs of life, then came a new post hit by Camarda and – again in the recovery – the poker. This time it was Fini who was fouled in the box, and the penalty was awarded to substitute Berti, who put his signature on the match at 92′ right in his own stadium (he plays in Cesena).

Thanks to this victory, Italy Under 21 remains at the top of the European qualifying round with full points: 9 points in three matches. Equal on points with Silvio Baldini’s Azzurrini, however, are Poland’s peers, who currently boast a better goal difference. Great importance will therefore have the direct clash scheduled for next November 14.