U-20 World Cup: Colombia Vs Italy quater-final match preview
The second quater-final of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup will pitch Colombia Vs Italy. SPORTSRATION presents a preview of the match.
MATCH DETAILS
Type Of Competition: 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup
Stage: Quater-final
Fixture: Colombia Vs Italy
Date: Saturday June 3, 2023
Time: 10pm
Venue: Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario.
HEAD TO HEAD
Colombia and Italy have met just once at U-20 level. It was the South Americans who conquered the Europeans 2-0 in a group stage match at the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
ABOUT THE MATCH
This on paper looks like the toughest quater-final fixture of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Two teams boosting of very talented players in their ranks, facing off for a semi-final spot in Argentina.
To reach this stage, Colombia finished the group stage with a perfect record, defeating Israel, Japan before a 1-1 draw vs Senegal to take top-spot in their group.
In the round of 16, the Tricolor as the Colombia U-20 team is nicknamed spanked Slovakia 5-1 to setup a last-8 vs the Gil Azzurrini who have survived a more difficult path.
Italy came out of a tight group D in second place. Their opening day 3-2 win over Brazil was struck low when they fell 0-2 to Nigeria . A 3-0 victory over Guatemala though guaranteed their progression to the knock-out round.
The round of 16 clash vs England presented the Gil Azzurrini with another difficult challenge but key-men Tommaso Baldanzi of Empoli and Cesare Casadei of Chelsea FC scored to better Alfie Devine’s goal for the Lions to extend one special record.
Italy have always reached the quater-final at every FIFA U-20 World Cup appearance since 1987.
Colombia and Italy will be a very interesting game, with the winner of this contest facing Nigeria or South Korea in the semi-final.
Colombia Predicted starting XI: Marquinez; Ocampo, Mantilla, Alvarez, Salazar; Puerta, Torres; Manyoma, Asprilla, Cortes; Angel
Italy Predicted starting XI: Desplanches; Zanotti, Guarino, Ghilardi, Turicchia; Casadei, Faticanti, Prati; Baldanzi; Ambrosino, Esposito
SPORTSRATION SAYS
This will be Colombia’s biggest test at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup whereas Italy have come up against the big guns with considerable success, we tip Italy to win and progress to the semi-final.
