Produced by the FIGC, the documentary closely recounts the week that led Bollini’s Azzurri to qualification. Andrea Natali: “Living in harmony is one of our strengths”
“We have to have one word in mind, one goal, Wales.” A journey first imagined and then conquered by Alberto Bollini’s Italy U19, who had failed to reach the final phase of the European Championship a year ago. This year, again in Calabria – the venue confirmed to host the Elite Round – things went differently. And the Italians managed, in a week of strong emotions and excellent results, to gain the pass to the continental tournament. What Italy, we remember, has already achieved in 2023 in Malta (in that team, among others, Pio Esposito, Pisilli, Ndour and Kayode).
This time the protagonists are different and there is also the possibility of getting to know them behind the scenes, thanks to the docufilm “Vestire l’azzurro” produced by the FIGC and available from today on the Vivo Azzurro TV platform. The images were shot in the week from 25 to 31 March, when Italy finished in the lead (with 7 points) in the group with Hungary, Türkiye and Slovakia hosted between Cosenza and Catanzaro. “Beautiful days, strong emotions with these colors on – says Inter U23 striker Mattia Mosconi, one of the team’s leaders, in the documentary -, with a group that has always put collective joy ahead of that of the individual”. “Each gathering marks the evolution of all of us as kids and as a team – underlines defender Andrea Natali, who plays in the Netherlands for Az Alkmaar –, living in harmony is one of our strengths”. Intense days, including training, technical meetings, individual conversations (like the one between coach Alberto Bollini and Samuele Inacio, Borussia Dortmund star) and moments of leisure. And then the matches in which “Be carefree, play as you know”, as Mattia Liberali says, who experienced particular emotions playing in his stadium at Ceravolo (in Serie B, he is expected in the playoffs with Alberto Aquilani’s Catanzaro). The documentary also gives the opportunity to get to know those who work without appearing: members of the technical staff, doctors and a team manager who – as a deacon – celebrated the imminent arrival of Easter on Palm Sunday.