Analyzing Italy’s Set-Piece Routines in the 2024 U-19 Euros
The U-19 Euros drew to a close last month, with Spain edging France 2-0 in the final in Belfast courtesy of goals from Iker Bravo and Assane Diao. Having beaten Portugal earlier in the summer in the U-17 Euros Final, Italy failed to add to their silverware haul in Northern Ireland, with Pol Fortuny’s 100th-minute goal seeing Spain prevail 1-0 in extra time and book their ticket for the final.
Despite their heartbreaking semifinal defeat, Italy delivered a strong campaign and impressed in terms of their set-piece attacks as well as their set-piece defense, not conceding a single goal from a corner kick. They were focused on keeping their opponents out of the six-yard area, remaining compact and constantly retaining a numerical advantage in their own third. With Tommaso Ebone, Kevin Zeroli and Filippo Mané, they’d often have three players guarding the near post and ensuring that the opponent couldn’t have an easy opportunity.
Italy opened their U-19 Euros campaign with a match against Norway at Seaview, with Daniel Braut opening the scoring in the 35th minute only for Luca Di Maggio to pull level before the break, but Zeroli would give them the lead in the 51st minute and ensure a 2-1 victory.
We can see an example of Italy’s defending against corner kicks in this situation. Eight players are located in the six-yard area with one player standing in front and three players behind them, as well as two players on the boundaries of the penalty zone.
On the other hand, Norway’s only two players are in the box, three of whom are moving towards the near-post, whilst Italy closes the first player down and Tommaso Ebone jumped in front of the first list, jumped before all the players and won the ball.
We can see a glimpse of this from their semifinal against Spain where the Italians stay disciplined and take measures to ensure that Iker Bravo cannot get a shot on target from this corner kick situation. Tommaso Ebone proves crucial and wins the aerial duel in order to prevent La Roja from getting a shot on target.
Italy were not just formidable in terms of defending corner kicks, but attacking them as well. They were able to thrive in terms of executing shot corners, as seen in their opener vs. Norway. Here, Simone Pafundi, Di Maggio and Zeroli operate a short corner against two Norwegian opponents, which Zeroli finding himself free and unmarked and threatening on goal, albeit unable to find the back of the net.
Italy are trying to engage Norway’s defense and pull them out thanks to their short corner, exposing space in front of the penalty area and enabling their attacker to have time and space to shoot. Here, Pafundi is at the edge of the penalty area, whilst Aaron Ciammaglichella finds himself unmarked at the edge of the box, and Pafundi is able to receive and shoot with ample space, only for his effort to hit the post.
Italy had another routine where five players would sit on the edge of the box and two players would be running in random directions to disperse Spain’s players, giving Pafundi the option to shoot and fashion a dangerous opportunity, but Bravo intervened to prevent him from scoring. Overall, Italy were able to discombobulate the Spanish players and create space for other players to get a shot away.
Whilst Italy were unable to come away with the trophy, they nevertheless impressed in terms of their ability to attack and defend set-pieces, and between Davide Bartesaghi, Francesco Camarda, Kevin Zeroli and Simone Pafundi, there are more than a few players who could be plying their trade for the Italian senior team sooner rather than later. All in all, the future looks brighter than ever for the Azzurri.
By: Mahmoud Salem / @masalem6
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / AC Milan