Tuesday evening will not be an ordinary evening for Genoa’s youth sector. It will, in fact, be the evening of the final between Genoa Under 15 and Roma Under 15, between the two coaches Jacob Hurry up and Mattia Scala.
Genoa’s 2009 draft class is yet another flagship of the precious work of Michele Sbravati, Andrea Bianchi and of all senior executives and components of staff who, from football school on up, work on the kids who we then find on the fields at weekends. The class of 2009, however, is also a job based on technical continuity.
The players coached by Mr. Jacopo Sbravati have been following the dictates of their coach for two years, who had already guided them in the previous season, the 2022/2023 season, in which the 2009 class faced the Under 14 Championship. Already in that season the strength of this group was perceived, which reached the Interregional Phase after having closed the regular season in first place.
That first place, fruit of 38 points in 14 gamesinexplicably gave almost no advantage to the rossoblù, who played only one home match out of three against Juventus, Milan and Inter.
The Interregional Phase, which ended with a success against Milan but without reaching the national championship finals, arrived at a delicate moment of the season, after an intense year full of satisfactions, including the victory of the prestigious Cairo Montenotte Tournament (where Cozzolino made his first appearance, a center forward who was a great protagonist this season) and the final at the St. Nicolas Cup against a coat of arms like that of the Portuguese Benfica, with whom it is never easy to deal. Yet in that match, played in the snow, the rossoblù lost 2-1 two minutes from time, equalizing Lusitania’s initial lead with Scaglione and also hitting the crossbar which could have given them the victory.
They are just two moments, two snapshots of a season that had already provided clear indications that there was a healthy and quality group. This season, then, Genoa Under 15 has reconfirmed itself. And what a reconfirmation for the class of 2009 given that they reached the Scudetto final against Roma, whose youth sector battles almost every year to win the various competitions.
To the historic group, led by the captain Grizzlyhave been added permanently Echelon (class of 2010) and three elements arriving in the summer of 2023: the center forward Cozzolinothe left back Savona and the left offensive side Aresini. Three very interesting players, seen around Italy, who completed an already very valid board.
The final on Tuesday ad Ascoli it will be the deserved recognition of a championship dominated from start to finish in a season where coach Jacopo Sbravati’s boys have not lost since 17 December 2023. In addition to having finished first in the regular season with 56 points resulting from 17 victories, 5 draws and only two defeats, the rossoblù class of 2009 have confirmed that they also have the most prolific attack (56 goals scored) and the best defense (22 goals conceded). Two fundamental parameters that allowed them to battle and keep two top-level teams behind them Bologna Under 15 And Juventus Under 15come second and third.
Clear path also to the quarter-finals: in the round of 16 they were eliminated Laziothe insidious one was eliminated in the quarter-finals Palermo of Pipitò and in the semi-final double success with Milan, both on the outward and return journey. On the other side of the scoreboard, in the meantime, colleague Mattia Scala’s Roma were advancing, winners of Group C with 60 points, 81 goals scored e 19 suffered. The Giallorossi will arrive at the “Del Duca” match after having overcome the Venicein the quarterfinals Juventus and in the semi-final theInter.
The numbers of Genoa and of Rome, even in terms of defeats suffered (2 for Genoa, 3 for Roma considering the 1-0 against Juventus in the quarter-finals), they are not that far apart. If we want to give them a minimum of value, they will certainly reward the two best teams of the season with the final match, those who have been able to overcome the difficulties with the quality of their squad and have been able to react with great conviction and concreteness to the adversities that every match can reserve. These are also relevant aspects in the growth of a group, which must mature technically, but also mentally and temperamentally.
Precisely because it is right to honor merit, before Tuesday’s final takes place, we highlight the entire Genoa Under 15 squad and all the staff members below.
- GOALKEEPERS: Iudice, Romeo, Costoli
- DEFENDERS: T. Bozzo, J. Bozzo, Forni, Saladino, Mandirola, Calierotti, Pagano, Aracri, Savona, Scaccianoce
- MIDFIELDS: Fazio, Brizzolari, Scaglione, Ndreu, Aresini, Costantino, Qosja, Patti
- ATTACKERS: Consuls, Botto, Lombards, Lleshi, Benefico, Cozzolino
- TECHNICAL STAFF: Jacopo Sbravati (coach), Matteo Rossi (assistant coach), Gianluca Aloe (technical collaborator), Davide Capello (goalkeeper trainer), Romeo Galli (athletic trainer), Davide Rebizzo (doctor), Davide Croce (physiotherapist), Stefano Furfaro (physiotherapist), Gaetano Consalvo (team manager), Paolo Sarno (AIA employee)
Genoa national teams, debut for Vasquez in the America’s Cup. On the pitch for 90 minutes in Houston
