Sports Mole previews Sunday’s European Under-17s Championship clash between Denmark Under-17s and Italy Under-17s, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
A place in the European Under-17 Championship final will be on the line when Denmark Under-17s face Italy Under-17s on Monday.
Denmark and Italy sealed their place in the last four with penalty shootout victories over the Czech Republic and England respectively.
Match preview
Denmark are preparing for just their second appearance in the European Under-17 Championship semi-finals despite only winning one of their four matches in regulation time.
They began their campaign with a win over Wales, before they drew 2-2 with Croatia and suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat in their final group game against Austria.
After settling for second spot in Group B, Denmark turned their focus to Wednesday’s quarter-final clash against Group A winners Czech Republic.
Arsenal’s Chido Obi played a crucial role, scoring an 82nd-minute equaliser to send the tie to penalties, where Denmark held their nerve to win the shootout 5-3 and set up a last-four meeting with Italy.
They lost 2-0 to Germany in their only previous semi-final appearance in 2011, leaving this current crop of players with the chance to make history in Sunday’s clash in Larnaca.
Out of the four teams left in the competition, Italy are the only side yet to taste defeat after claiming maximum points in the group stage, before outing England in the quarter-final.
They saw off Poland, Slovakia and Sweden to top Group C and carry significant momentum into Thursday’s clash with the Three Lions.
Penalties were required to separate the two sides after AC Milan’s Mattia Liberali scored in the 29th minute to cancel out Ethan Nwaneri‘s 16th-minute opener.
Italy kept their composure to prevail 5-4 in the shootout, booking a place in the semi-finals for the first time since achieving back-to-back last-four appearances in 2018 and 2019.
The current group may be able to take confidence from the fact that Italy has prevailed in three of their previous four European Under-17 Championship semi-finals.
Denmark Under-17s European Under-17s Championship form:
Italy Under-17s European Under-17s Championship form:
Team News
Denmark boss Jesper Mikkelsen is set to keep faith with a back four of Victor Gustafsen, Philip Sondergaard, Noah Markmann and Frej Elkjaer.
However, Mikkelsen may be tempted to make a change in midfield, with Oliver Hojer pushing for a starting spot after dropping down to the bench against the Czech Republic.
Obi will continue to lead the line for his country, having scored two of Denmark’s five goals at the tournament.
As for their opponents, Favo is likely to keep faith with a back four of Emanuel Benjamin, Andrea Natali, Christian Garofalo and Cristian Cama.
The Italy head coach could be tempted to freshen up his midfield with the introduction of Inter Milan’s Matteo Mantini.
Liberali and Francesco Camarda will provide Italy’s main attacking threats, having scored two goals apiece during the tournament.
Denmark Under-17s possible starting lineup:
Breum-Harild; Gustafsen, Sondergaard, Markmann, Andersen; Hojer, Hyseni, Lassen; Abildgaard, Risnaes, Obi
Italy Under-17s possible starting lineup:
Longoni; Benjamin, Natali, Garofalo, Cama; Sala, Coletta, Mantini, Liberali; Camarda, Mosconi
We say: Denmark Under-17s 1-2 Italy Under-17s
Italy have arguably been the standout side in the tournament, and we think they will continue their fine form by claiming a narrow victory in Friday’s semi-final.
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