A cool autumnal evening at the Stadio Paolo Mazza was the setting for the Under-21 clash between Italy and England. A match of this billing can rarely be classed as ‘friendly’, and the atmosphere in Ferrara matched the weather for the away team.
In the build up to next summer’s U21 Euro Finals, England took on the hosts of the tournament in what was yet another stern test for Aidy Boothroyd’s young lions. The match was a feisty affair with both teams enjoying chances at either end. Plenty of strong challenges geed the crowd up in what was a hard-fought and testing game for both sides.
Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke’s brace was enough to extend the England U21’s unbeaten run to 17 matches though, the game ending 1-2. A decent weekend for England was wrapped up with the senior team booking a spot at next summer's UEFA Nation's League Final with a 2-1 win over Croatia.
Photography by Giacomo Cosua for SoccerBible.
