One final obstacle stands in the way of the Italy U-21s before they can celebrate qualification to the finals of the European Championship that will take place in Poland next June. Top of Group 2 and unbeaten with 7 wins and 2 draws, the Azzurrini will confirm their place at the Euros as long as they avoid defeat against Lithuania in Kaunas on Tuesday 11th October (ko 18:00 local time, 17:00 CEST). Lithuania are second-from-bottom in the group and were beaten 2-0 by Italy on 17th November 2015 in Castel di Sangro thanks to goals from Domenico Berardi and Marco Benassi. 24 players have been called up by coach Luigi Di Biagio for a training camp starting on Monday 3rd October in Rome. Having played for Italy in every other age group, Andrea Petagna has earned his first call-up at U-21 level. The Atalanta attacker scored his second Serie A goal on Monday at Crotone. The team will undergo their first training session in the afternoon of Monday 3rd October and will leave for Kaunas on Sunday 9th where they will take on their hosts on Tuesday 11th October at the Darius & Girenas Stadium in their final match of European Championship qualifying. The photo (Getty Images) shows Andrea Petagna in action Final fixtures in Group 2 7th October: Republic of Ireland vs. Serbia
7th October: Lithuania vs. Slovenia
11th October: Lithuania vs. ITALY
11th October: Serbia vs. Slovenia Group 2 table: ITALY 23 points, Serbia 17, Slovenia 15, Republic of Ireland 12, Lithuania 6, Andorra 3. Squad list
Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Benevento), Pierluigi Gollini (Aston Villa), Alex Meret (Spal);
Defenders: Antonio Barreca (Torino), Davide Biraschi (Genoa), Davide Calabria (Milan), Mattia Caldara (Atalanta), Andrea Conti (Atalanta), Alex Ferrari (Bologna), Nicola Murru (Cagliari), Michele Somma (Brescia);
Midfielders: Marco Benassi (Torino), Danilo Cataldi (Lazio), Alberto Grassi (Atalanta), Luca Mazzitelli (Sassuolo), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Sassuolo), Valerio Verre (Pescara);
Forwards: Alberto Cerri (Spal), Federico Di Francesco (Bologna), Luca Garritano (Cesena), Leonardo Morosini (Brescia), Andrea Petagna (Atalanta), Federico Ricci (Sassuolo), Valerio Lorenzo Rosseti (Lugano).
Staff – Head of Delegation: Giancarlo Antognoni; Accompanying Director: Vincenzo Marinelli; Head Coach: Luigi Di Biagio; Assistant Coach: Carmine Nunziata; Secretary: Emiliano Cozzi; Goalkeeping Coach: Antonio Chimenti; Fitness Coach: Vito Azzone; Team Doctors: Angelo De Carli and Luca Gatteschi; Physiotherapists: Guido Mauro Ferrini and Maurizio Fagorzi; Kitmen: Claudio Gagliardi and Andrea Russo.
 
Italy U-21s' schedule Monday 3rd October
Team meet before 12:30 in Rome
16:30 – training (closed) Tuesday 4th October
10:00 – training (closed)
13:30 – meeting with press (players)
16:30 – training (open to press) Wednesday 5th October
10:00 – training (closed)
16:30 – training (closed) Thursday 6th October
15:30 – friendly match: Italy U-21s vs. Racing Roma (open to press)
Meeting with press (coach) at full-time Friday 7th October
16:30 – training (closed)           Saturday 8th October
10:00 – training (closed)
16:30 – training (closed) Sunday 9th October
09:00 – training (closed)
12:50 – departure on chartered flight from Rome to Kaunas
17:00 l.t. – arrival in Kaunas and transfer to hotel. Monday 10th October
14:00 – meeting with press (coach)

18:00 – training at the “Darius & Girenas Stadium” – Kaunas (first 15' open to press) Tuesday 11th October
18:00 l.t.  LITHUANIA – ITALY “Darius & Girenas Stadium”  – Kaunas
Meeting with press at full-time