For Italy U-21s, qualification to the European Championship finals could arrive as early as Friday if the Republic of Ireland manage to beat Serbia in Waterford. The scenario is far from remote. Noel King's Republic have won three of their last four matches, losing only to Italy on 24th March (1-4). The Azzurrini, however, know that their fate is in their own hands and that a berth at the Euros in Poland will be secured as long as they avoid defeat against Lithuania at the Darius & Girenas Stadium in Kaunas on Tuesday 11th October (ko 18:00 local time, 17:00 CEST).
 
Italy are continuing to prepare in Rome for the final game in their qualifying group and Luigi Di Biagio will be able to call on the enthusiasm of Andrea Petagna for the Lithuania match, after the striker earned his first U-21 call-up having played at every other age group for his country. The Atalanta forward is enjoying an extraordinary purple patch at the moment. He has started the last two matches for Gian Piero Gasperini's men – keeping two formidable attackers out of the side in the shape of Pinilla and Paloschi – and he scored his third Serie A goal against Napoli on Sunday. “The credit for my good form goes to the manager and the club, who have always believed in me”, said Petagna at Italy's training camp, “I'm doing everything I can to repay them on the pitch, but for now my mind is solely focussed on the match against Lithuania. I'll look to get even better. I know my strengths and I'll try to closely study all the other attackers so I can steal something of theirs.” Qualification to the Euros is a starting point; Petagna is also hoping to be part of the squad in future: “I'm very happy to be here; it's an objective I've had for a long time. I'm training at full throttle at the moment and I want to do well in the league so I can go to Poland in June”. Firstly, however, Italy must seal qualification.

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
 
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 vs. ITALY “Darius & Girenas Stadium”  – Kaunas
Meeting with press at full-time