Under-21 Coach Ciro Ferrara assures Fabio Borini and Mattia Destro “are ready for Euro 2012” as they train with Cesare Prandelli’s squad.
Under-21 Coach Ciro Ferrara assures Fabio Borini and Mattia Destro “are ready for Euro 2012” as they train with Cesare Prandelli’s squad.
The two youngsters were named in the 32-man long list for the tournament, which will be reduced to 23.
“If they are here, then it means they have done something important during this season,” Ferrara told Raisport.
“They must prove in these days of training that they can be part of this squad and it won’t be easy. Nothing stops them dreaming. If they don’t make it into the final list, they know that the Under-21 side is waiting for them.
“It’s not up to me to decide, but if Prandelli called these players then it’s evident he considered them up to the task.
“In my view both Borini and Destro are ready for a tournament like Euro 2012. It has already happened in the past that some 20-year-olds catapulted into competitions like the World Cup or Euros have done well.
“Borini had important experience abroad with Chelsea as a very young man and that helped forge him as a player. Fabio has ambition and the right mentality.
“Destro has different characteristics, great technique and at Siena this season Giuseppe Sannino improved him physically.”
Under-21 international Marco Verratti was also called up by Prandelli for consideration.
“It has been said for a while that Italian football no longer provides talented strikers, but that’s not true,” added Ferrara.
“We have many young and interesting forwards other than Borini and Destro. I think of Manolo Gabbiadini, Lorenzo Insigne, Ciro Immobile, Alberto Paloschi and Stephan El Shaarawy. They give us real hope.”