Posts Tagged ‘Israel’

Israel 1-3 Italy: TurboMario & Abate Send the Azzurrini to Sweden! (U-21 Euro 2009 Playoff for Final Tournament)

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

After their 0-0 draw in Ancona, the Azzurrini needed an exploit… and they delivered. Casiraghi can really be proud of his boys tonight, as Italy’s U-21 team travelled to Tel-Aviv and defeated Israel U-21 with a score of 3-1, courtesy of a Balotelli double and a cherry on the cake by Abate. A really wonderful performance, in which the outcome of the game was never in doubt for a single second, thanks to the immediate “we’re in charge” attitude of the boys in blue (wearing white for the occasion).

And speaking of Balotelli, how ironic that in a day when the Azzurrini were missing important pieces like Dessena, Giovinco, Marchisio and Andreolli, the missing link turned out to a player who, not longer than two months ago, was not even considered eligible. A beast and the indiscussed leader of the Italian team tonight, TurboMario took the Azzurrini by hand and unleashed his goalscoring power, as indeed there is no better word to describe Balotelli’s executions landing into the back of the Israeli net.

Sixteen years after their 1992 triumph, which proclaimed Italy U-21 European Champions for the very first time, the Azzurrini will be returning to Sweden trying to emulate the performance of Cesare Maldini’s boys. Hallå Sverige!

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Italy 0-0 Israel: Azzurrini Draw Blank in Home First Leg (U-21 Euro 2009 Playoff for Final Tournament)

Saturday, October 11th, 2008

Bad day for Italy’s U-21 team. The Azzurrini could not do better than a 0-0 goal-less draw at Ancona Saturday, making their road towards the Euro 2009 final tournament a little bit harder. Casiraghi’s boys now need either a win or a draw (with goals) on Wednesday, as they travel to Tel-Aviv to face a tough Israel U-21 side.

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Euro 2009 U-21 PLAYOFFS Draw: Italy get Israel, Germany vs. France to Whet the Appetite

Saturday, September 13th, 2008

It’ll be Israel for the Azzurrini. Pierluigi Casiraghi’s Italy U-21 team discovered their playoff phase opponent this Friday, after the Euro 2009 Under 21 Draw that gifted us clashes like Germany vs. France and Wales vs. England.

The home-and-away matches will be played on October 11/12 and 14/15 (with match venues, dates and kick-off times to be confirmed next Friday), while the final tournament itself will take place from June 15 to 29, 2009.

(From Uefa.com): Heavyweights Germany and France will meet in the play-offs for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship and there is also an all-British contest after outsiders Wales were pitted against heavily fancied England at today’s draw in Malmo, Sweden.

Germany qualified as winners of Group 9 but they face a difficult test against 1988 champions France as they bid to win the tournament for the first time. Les Bleuets qualified as one of the four best runners-up from Group 10 behind Wales who, having surprised many by getting this far, now face a daunting tie against two-time champions England.

Italy have won the competition more times than any other side and now only Israel stand between the Azzurrini and a chance to win their sixth title. Having knocked out champions the Netherlands, winners in both 2006 and 2007, Switzerland have been paired with twice-winners Spain, the only side who did not drop a point in qualifying.

There will be at least one newcomer in Sweden next summer as Austria take on Finland with both nations bidding to reach the final tournament at this level for the first time. Serbia, runners-up last year, take on Denmark, while Turkey meet Belarus.

It will be a demanding matchcommented Casiraghi after the draw. “Israel is not a team which I know very well, but the fact they finished tied with Germany during the qualifiers makes think they are pretty good. All teams who have made it to the playoff round are good teams. Our only concern is having to play the first leg at home, but overall our fitness level will be much better then that it is now. We are just hoping to recover our injured players in time.”

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2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
PLAYOFF Draw

First leg: October 11/12
Second leg: October 14/15

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Germany
Germany
vs.
France
France
Denmark
Denmark
vs.
Serbia
Serbia
Turkey
Turkey
vs.
Belarus
Belarus
Austria
Austria
vs.
Finland
Finland
Wales
Wales
vs.
England
England
Italy
Italy
vs.
Israel
Israel
Switzerland
Switzerland
vs.
Spain
Spain


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