In San Benedetto del Tronto we are preparing for the last pre-U20 World Cup meeting and the technical manager of the Italian national team Roberto Santamaria has called up 33 players: among them is our young Galletto, Pietro Bettini!
For him and the Italians, a meeting is scheduled for tomorrow and a preparation journey that will take them to Saturday, when there will be the test match against Spain of the same age (kick-off at 18:00).
In the immediately following hours, the group of 30 athletes selected for South Africa will be made official, giving the event in the Marche a particularly interesting technical value with projection onto the top world competition.
“A very important meeting for us, the longest of those held so far, therefore useful for everyone, staff and players, to work a little more in depth also on group dynamics”, begins the head coach Roberto Santamaria in his comment. . “Finalizing these days around playing a match is what we need at this stage, and against Spain we know that nothing will be given to us on Saturday, having to face a team ready for their first Championship, highly motivated and consistent in all areas of game, as demonstrated by the Trophy victory and subsequent outings over the last few months.”
On the entry of Andrea Marcato and Alessandro Lodi into the staff, the coach expresses his utmost satisfaction: “I am really happy to be able to share this role with two figures like Andrea and Alessandro, two friends, two coaches who I respect very much, but above all two people with whom I already know from the start that working together will be a pleasure, their entry represents a real added value for this national team. It’s clear that we will have to find alignment quickly on various points, given that the World Cup is upon us, but I repeat, we all start with an advantage precisely because of their professional and human quality.”
After San Benedetto del Tronto, the time for choices, with the 30 players to whom we will entrust the 2024 Championship campaign: “Choosing is never easy, but it is part of our sport and everyone, staff and players, is aware of it. Whoever arrives within this national team does so thanks to the value they have been able to demonstrate on the pitch, and every year between the Six Nations and the World Cup the opportunities arise again, so without prejudice to the age limits, a possible exclusion will not it is never a final decision. It’s clear that we already have a precise idea, but Spain will be able to resolve the last doubts, then we will all leave for Cape Town calm and determined to give our all in the most difficult competition that exists.”
With the San Benedetto crowd doing their part: “We count on it a lot, these guys honor the Azzurra shirt every time they take to the pitch, as their performances at the Six Nations regularly demonstrate: the support of the fans is fundamental, and all of us we expect a good boost from the city and from all of the Marche, a land that has already shown us truly exciting affection in recent weeks.”
The team will be based for the entire period at the Hotel Casale in Colli del Tronto, then using the UR San Benedetto sports center for training sessions, with Captain’s Run set for 5.15pm on Thursday on the “Nelson Mandela” lawn.
Tickets for the match are available on the Ticketone platform at extremely advantageous conditions, while the live streaming of the match is confirmed on the federugby.it website and on the FIR YouTube channel.
