Brazil, the current South American champion, starts the U-20 World Cup in Argentina with a tough defeat against the Italian National Team. Quickly, in the 11th minute, full-back Matteo Prati reached the bottom, took advantage of a comb in the area and scored the first. Then, a double from Casadei put the partial 3-0 of the match.
Since the 2003 World Cup Brazil has not fallen by three goals in the first half of a U-20 World Cup. That year, he started losing by three goals against Australia and the match ended 3-2. To convert one more goal, Italy would cause the worst defeat in the history of the 103 matches in the history of the category.
The goals for Italy's win
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The Canarinha returns to a youth world championship with the vitola of favorite after conquering this year's South American Championship in Colombia and full of ambition after missing the last two editions (2019 and 2017).
His goal is to add the sixth star, something that also pursues the absolute. Both teams are today curiously trained by the same coach, Ramon Menezes.
Under his baton, the U-20 team mercilessly swept the South American with scary numbers: seven wins and two draws, with 19 goals in favor and only 4 against.
The first test at the Malvinas Argentinas stadium is, however, against a European team that has gallons left over, although the Brazilians say they fear nothing, or anyone.
They do not sign even in the draw against the Italians, with whom they share group D along with the Dominican Republic and Nigeria.
"We want to win, we want to go out with the three points. We don't know how the game is going to unfold, but we are prepared for everything, regardless of the weather," Corinthians striker Giovane told reporters in the mixed zone.
The whole group trained smoothly on Friday at the Godoy Cruz Sports Center, in the midst of an optimistic atmosphere and with room even for jokes between the staff and the technical commission.
Matheus Nascimento, battering ram of Botafogo, returned to normal activities, after missing the previous day's session due to digestive problems.
"We have high expectations, the best possible. Brazil is South American champion and we are very happy to be playing in the World Cup. We are very integrated and eager to debut on Sunday," said Savio, a PSV Eindhoven winger.
Giovane and Sávio make up the list of seven attackers with which the green-yellow team goes to this World Cup in which two of the most promising scorers in Brazilian football will not be present: Vitor Roque, of Athletico Paranaense, and Endrick, of Palmeiras.
None were released by their clubs.
Italy qualified after reaching the semifinals of the last European Under-19, instance in which they lost to England, the eventual champion.
They are led by former footballer Carmine Nunziata, who trained at the bases of AC Milan and in 2012 joined the lower categories of the Italian national team.
He has an attacking style and likes to play with a midfielder behind a pair of strikers. In this case, the 10th is Tommaso Baldanzi, from Empoli.
The group is conducting double training sessions in Mendoza, where their opponent on Sunday is also concentrated.
"I can't wait to play one of the most beautiful and difficult challenges in history, all together, giving the best of ourselves to continue dreaming," confessed Simone Pafundi, the youngest of the 'Azzurri', with just turned 17, in statements released by the Italian federation. EFE