Under 21 European Championships, Germany-Italy tonight: Casadei starts if Baldanzi doesn't recover

Dunajska Streda (Slovakia), 22 June 2025 – After closing the group, Italy Under 21s aim straight for a place in the semi-finals of the European Championships in their category. To catch him, however, the Azzurri will have to overcome the obstacle Germany this evening at 21pm (live on Rai Uno and streaming on Rai Play), at the "Dac Arena in Dunajska Streda, in Slovakia. After the challenges with Romania, Slovakia and Spain, the difficulty level has been reached for the Azzurri who face Germany, the only team in the competition to have finished Group B with a full score after defeating England, the Czech Republic and Slovenia and who scored nine goals, making the Teutonic team the best attack so far in the European Championship together with that of Portugal: “In the matches we have seen so far, Germany has appeared to be a very solid team – explained the Italian national coach Nunziata in the pre-match press conference –m who has great intensity. It is always short and it is difficult to catch it unprepared and in addition it has some individuals of great quality like Gruda and Woltemade. They are a strong team, like all those who have reached this point in the competition. We will have to take the field trying to play the game straight away and be a compact team, that tries to make fewer mistakes and exploit those of others. We want to get to the end of this European Championship, but if our opponents are better, hats off”. Nunziata then tried to dribble every possible indication on the formation: “I am waiting for the finishing touches to make the final decisions. We need to see how the boys are and whether someone will return or not (Baldanzi is uncertain). I no longer have the need to experiment with the modules, the boys have absorbed both game systems adopted”.  

Nunziata's possible choices

The Italian coach should continue to rely on the three-man defense already seen against Spain: Ghilardi, Coppola and Pirola should therefore be the three central defenders of goalkeeper Desplanches. The flanks should instead be the responsibility of Zanotti and Ruggeri, with Prati and Ndour forming the midfield pair. In the three-quarter line, behind striker Gnonto, in the event of Baldanzi's absence, Casadei should be alongside the scorer of the equaliser against Spain Pisilli. Di Salvo's Germany should instead focus on 4-3-3: Collins, Rosenfelder, Arrey-Mbi and Brown will form the defensive quartet in front of goalkeeper Atubolu. Nebel and Reitz, barring any surprises, will instead be the two mezzali alongside the director Martel, while the attacking trident should be formed by Gruda, Tresoldi and Woltemade. Times and where to watch the match: the Germany-Italy match, valid for the quarter-finals of the European Under-21 Championship underway in Slovakia, will be broadcast this evening, Sunday 22 June 2025, at 21 pm live exclusively on Rai Uno and streaming on the Rai Play website and app.

Probable lineups:

Germany U-21 (4-3-3): Atubolu; Collins, Rosenfelder, Arrey-Mbi, Brown; Nebel, Martel, Reitz; Gruda, Tresoldi, Woltemade. Ct. Di Salvo Italy Under 21 (3-4-2-1): Desplanches; Ghilardi; Coppola; Gnonto. Ct. Nunziata