In a closely contested friendly, the Italy U21 side suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of their Dutch counterparts in Venice. This encounter served as a preparatory match ahead of the upcoming European Championship set to unfold from June 11 to 28 in Slovakia.
The scoring opened with a goal from Fitz-Jim in the 19th minute, giving the Netherlands an early lead. Italy's Sebastiano Esposito levelled the match with a penalty just nine minutes after the break, igniting hopes of a comeback for the Azzurrini. However, in a dramatic twist during the dying moments of the game, the Dutch, reduced to nine men following two red cards, managed to snatch victory. Bruns broke away on a counterattack, sealing the match with a late goal.
This defeat will undoubtedly serve as a wake-up call for Italy as they gear up for their European campaign.
