Gigi Di Biagio wants all three points from the Italy Under-21 side’s qualifier against the Republic of Ireland, but loses another player.

The Azzurrini visit the Regional Sports Center Stadium in Waterford on Thursday at 18.00 GMT.

The last time they met for the European Under-21 Championship qualifier in October, Italy won 1-0 thanks to a Vittorio Parigini goal.

Gigi Di Biagio wants all three points from the Italy Under-21 side’s qualifier against the Republic of Ireland, but loses another player.

The Azzurrini visit the Regional Sports Center Stadium in Waterford on Thursday at 18.00 GMT.

The last time they met for the European Under-21 Championship qualifier in October, Italy won 1-0 thanks to a Vittorio Parigini goal.

“We will play in a very difficult arena, but a victory would mean setting down some important building blocks for qualification to the European Championship,” said Coach Di Biagio.

“We have to expect that Ireland will play the game of their lives against us. This means a great deal to them, it is without doubt they are still in the running and want to maintain that.”

Italy have lost Cesena star Stefano Sensi and Virtus Lanciano midfielder Federico Di Francesco to injury, while Daniele Rugani of Juventus was called up for the senior Italy squad to replace Andrea Barzagli.

Kingsley Boateng, owned by Milan but on loan at Bari, has been brought in as a late addition.

The Azzurrini will play the Republic of Ireland and then Andorra on March 29.

Italy are currently top of qualifying Group 2 with 13 points from five games, followed by Slovenia on 12 points from six games, Serbia on 10 points from five and the Republic of Ireland on nine points from five.

Italy Under-21 squad:

GK: Alessio Cragno (Virtus Lanciano), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Simone Scuffet (Como);
D: Antonio Barreca (Cagliari), Davide Calabria (Milan), Mattia Caldara (Cesena), Andrea Conti (Atalanta), Alex Ferrari (Bologna), Adam Masina (Bologna), Alessio Romagnoli (Milan);
M: Marco Benassi (Torino), Danilo Cataldi (Lazio), Alberto Grassi (Napoli), Rolando Mandragora (Pescara), Luca Mazzitelli (Brescia), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Sassuolo);
F: Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Kingsley Boateng (Bari), Alberto Cerri (Cagliari), Luca Garritano (Cesena), Gaetano Monachello (Atalanta), Federico Ricci (Crotone), Valerio Lorenzo Rosseti (Cesena)

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