Italy Under-21 Coach Luigi Di Biagio is targeting at least the semi-finals of the European Under-21 Championship in the Czech Republic next summer.

The Azzurrini qualified for the finals after a 4-2 aggregate victory over Slovakia in the play-off round, and their Coach now wants his young guns to make the last four.

“If we want to become a team of the highest level then we have to become more balanced,” Di Biagio has explained to Tuttosport today.

Italy Under-21 Coach Luigi Di Biagio is targeting at least the semi-finals of the European Under-21 Championship in the Czech Republic next summer.

The Azzurrini qualified for the finals after a 4-2 aggregate victory over Slovakia in the play-off round, and their Coach now wants his young guns to make the last four.

“If we want to become a team of the highest level then we have to become more balanced,” Di Biagio has explained to Tuttosport today.

“We cannot go from moments of exaltation to moments where we do not understand anything anymore.

“That said, we won the important games and we finished first in a difficult qualification group.

“At the Under-21 Championship we are one of eight teams. In terms of our rivals; Germany, Portugal and Serbia are the strongest.

“We are capable of anything, we can win, but also suffer against any team.

“The minimum goal is the semi-final, which would allow us to qualify for the Olympics, although I want to go there as one of the leading teams, not the fourth-place side.”

Di Biagio was capped 31 times by Italy during his playing career, and the 43-year-old believes some of his players have the ability to follow in his footsteps.

“[Alessio] Romagnoli and [Daniele] Rugani are very young and are emerging. They can be the future.

“But don’t forget [Matteo] Bianchetti, [Luca] Antei and [Eduardo] Goldaniga, not to mention the goalkeepers who can play for the next 20 years.”

Di Biagio also believes strikers Dominco Berardi, Federico Bernardeschi and Andrea Belotti will go on to play for the biggest clubs in the world.

“Can they play for the greatest teams? Yes, most definitely.

“I’m also waiting for an explosion in form from [Samuele] Longo, but [Fulham striker Marcello] Trotta is unfortunately not getting much game time in England.

“The first three will definitely play for a big team in the future.”

Image source: vivoazzurro.it

Byrob

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