Like every time there are breaks for the national teams, the coaches are crossing their fingers hoping that all the players they have around Europe don’t get injured. In the Azzurri’s home this is the case of Paolo Zanetti, who immediately had to deal with the withdrawal of Tommaso Baldanzi in the Under 21 match on Friday against Latvia (disappointing 0-0 and no minutes even for Fazzini and Guarino), before qualifying match for the 2025 European Championships. The playmaker from Castelfiorentino was rested as a precaution by coach Nunziata due to a muscle problem. We will continue to monitor his condition in the next few days because the intention, however, is to be able to use him in next Tuesday’s match in Turkey. In short, a delicate situation in view of the difficult away match that awaits Empoli next Sunday at the Olimpico against Roma, for the resumption of the championship.
As for the other Italian players involved with their national teams, great joy for Stiven Shpendi, scorer of the first goal (among other things, also of excellent workmanship) in the 2-1 with which Albania Under 21 won in Armenia. A goal which, combined with the good impact he has had so far in the matches played in Serie A, seriously puts the former Cesena talent forward for a starting place for the next away match against Mourinho’s Giallorossi. Shpendi, who played 90 minutes on Friday evening, will return to action on Tuesday against Romania. Again with regards to Albania, good performances also for the goalkeeper Etrit Berisha and the defender Ardian Ismajli, starting for the entire match in the 1-1 draw of the Euro2024 qualifiers in the Czech Republic. Tonight at 8.45pm in Tirana second match in the ‘ derby’ between teammates with Bartosz Bereszynski, on the pitch for 59 minutes in the 2-0 win with which his Poland beat the Faroe Islands in Warsaw. If on the one hand the results with their national teams can bring emotionally charged players back to Zanetti, on the other hand the coach will only have 3 full days to prepare for the match in Rome, keeping his fingers crossed that no one has physical problems.
