Italy v Republic of Ireland, qualification for the European Under-21 Championship

9 minutes ago

Half time: Italy 1-0 Republic of Ireland

10 minutes ago

Italy 1-0 Republic of Ireland

43 – Disappointment for Ireland when Italy came to the front just before half-time. Frabotta’s Search Ball finds Sottil on the left. He was allowed to turn in on his right foot too easily, beating Masterson before getting the ball into Bazunu’s far post.

13 minutes ago

OBJECTIVE! Italy 1-0 Republic of Ireland (Riccardo Sottil, 43)

16 minutes ago

Source: Matteo Ciambelli / INPHO

17 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

36 – A Big Disappointment! Ireland squandered possession as Masterson and Coventry looked to exchange passes on the edge of their own box. The ball fell kindly to Sottil, who fired. The best chance in the game so far.

21 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

34 – Great opportunity for Ireland. Elbouzedi got involved again before Leahy sent out a glowing center. O’Connor was only a fraction of a second too late.

22 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

33 – An opportunity for Obafemi, again created by Elbouzedi, comes to nothing when his shot is blocked by a sea of ​​Italian bodies.

24 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

32 – Smallbone’s corner for Ireland is cleared by Italy.

25 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

31- Ireland’s great play allows Smallbone to send a cross from the right, but there is no one to receive it.

26 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

30 – Another great move by Elbouzedi, who tries a deep pass to Obafemi, but the goalkeeper comes to claim it.

27 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

29 – Tonali doubles a dangerous free throw in the direction of Cutrone at the back post. Cutrone loses it and, to Bazunu’s relief, it opens.

29 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

27 – Muratore shoots far for Italy, which is easy to handle for Bazunu.

31 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

25 – Excellent material again from the left of Elbouzedi, but its alluring center is wasted.

32 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

23 – Italy begins to take control of this game now. Ireland lacks ideas in attack at the minute.

35 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

22 – As for Gianluca Frabotta, whom we have mentioned several times, the 21-year-old left-back made his Serie A debut with Juventus in August.

36 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

20 – Italy corner taken from a corner comes to nothing. Obafemi tries to break up, but Pirola fouls.

38 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

17 – Italy attack from the left through Frabotta again. The ball breaks for Sottil, whose attempt to volley into Bazunu’s goal is deflected.

41 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

15 – That was a warning for Ireland. Frabotta seems a very useful player for the locals.

42 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

14 – Danger for Ireland as Frabotta does well again on the left. Cutrone misses his low center, but in any case the whistle sounded for offside against the Fiorentina forward.

43 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

12 – Birindelli takes the lead on the right for Italy, but throws his center offside.

Tonali currently limping after receiving a kick to the ankle from Coventry.

45 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

11 – Taylor attempts a shot from a distance that is comfortably stopped by Cerofolini.

46 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

10 – Excellent work by Zack Elbouzedi wins a corner for Ireland, but is easily cleared by the Italians.

48 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

8 – Good opportunity for Ireland when the ball falls to Jack Taylor on the edge of the box but the half volley of the Peterborough United midfielder is deflected.

49 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

7 – Two major blocks by Nathan Collins held Italy at bay during that final step of the game.

50 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

6 – Concern for Ireland as Frabotta made a great run into the box, but the visitors finally cleared the danger.

51 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

5 – No reporting possibilities yet, but Ireland controls possession so far.

52 minutes ago

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

4 – In the absence of Jayson Molumby, who is absent in senior service, Ireland will be captained today by Queens Park Rangers central defender Conor Masterson.

56 minutes ago

With Ireland playing in white, the game is on.

3:57P.M

Source: Matteo Ciambelli / INPHO

3:55P.M

The main talking point on the team news front for Ireland is the Under-21 debut of Southampton midfielder Will Smallbone.

Italy: Michele Cerofolini, Alessandro Vogliacco, Gianluca Frabotta, Sandro Tonali, Alessandro Buongiorno, Lorenzo Pirola, Samuele Birindelli, Samuele Ricci, Patrick Cutrone, Simone Muratore, Riccardo Sottil.

Republic of Ireland: Gavin Bazunu, Lee O’Connor, Conor Masterson, Nathan Collins, Darragh Leahy, Conor Coventry, Jack Taylor, Will Smallbone, Connor Ronan, Zack Elbouzedi, Michael Obafemi.

3:53P.M

An outbreak of Covid-19 in the Italian squad caused the postponement of the clash with Iceland in Reykjavik last Friday. With the number of players testing positive at seven yesterday, the Italian Football Federation has made the decision to line up its U-20 team against Ireland.

However, they also have four under-21 players on their side. Included in that quartet are midfield lynchpin Sandro Tonali, who recently joined AC Milan, and Wolverhampton Wanderers forward (on loan at Fiorentina) Patrick Cutrone.

3:53P.M

Before starting, check all the essential details in our match preview here.

3:53P.M

Hello, and welcome to our live blog of the qualifier for the European Under-21 Championship between Italy and the Republic of Ireland.

We will keep you posted here as the game will start in Pisa at 4pm Irish time.