National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10301 (Terracing: 7726, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) U21 Italy's Daniele Giampieri started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Edgar Rahne made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniele Giampieri in the 3rd minute of play. U21 Italy's Anfilogino Rivera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Wim Hägele in the 13th minute of play. After a rather tough play, U21 Germany's Edbert Jahr got a free kick in the 22nd minute. After a defensive mix-up in U21 Germany's zone, Bernardo Di Piazza stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Edgar Rahne came out of the goal and Bernardo Di Piazza tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Enrico Piccirilli hit a great freekick 24 minutes into the match. 31 minutes into the match, Daniele Giampieri had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Edgar Rahne. U21 Germany's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Daniele Giampieri was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. In the 38th minute the ball was on its way in behind U21 Germany's goalkeeper Edgar Rahne, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Daniele Giampieri might have been able to make a better finish in the 40th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Edgar Rahne. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Daniele Giampieri ran back to his position shaking his head. U21 Germany's Edgar Rahne played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Daniele Giampieri in the 40th minute of play. 42 minutes into the match, U21 Italy's goal looked a bit too open when Wim Hägele came free, but Anfilogino Rivera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Anfilogino Rivera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Volker Mahr in the 45th minute of the match. The supporters of U21 Germany booed when U21 Italy was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 46 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ciccio Celli didn't get a good kick on the ball. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

55 minutes into the game, U21 Italy's Daniele Giampieri nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Edgar Rahne made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Daniele Giampieri in the 64th minute of play forced U21 Germany's goalkeeper Edgar Rahne to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 66th minute the ball was on its way in behind U21 Germany's goalkeeper Edgar Rahne, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Franz-Peter Weinforth received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 69th minute. Anfilogino Rivera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. U21 Italy's Pasquale Leone was substituted for Daniele Giampieri. U21 Italy's Florian Addario was substituted for Anthony De Marco. Anfilogino Rivera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Wim Hägele in the 74th minute. U21 Italy's Augusto De Angelis managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Connor Brütting in the 75 minute of the game. U21 Italy's attentive Augusto De Angelis managed to snatch the ball when Connor Brütting made a throw-in in the 76th minute of the game. Edgar Rahne showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Pasquale Leone, who was totally free with the ball in the 77th minute. Edgar Rahne made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Pasquale Leone in the 81st minute of play. Pasquale Leone fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 87th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Edgar Rahne having to interfere. There were very few away supporters still in the ground by the end of the match. Most of them had left early, disgusted by the way their team had been torn apart. U21 Italy fully deserved thier win.