Italy U20 — Cuba U20 : Match Preview and Prediction for October 01,2025

Initial Victory Under Scrutiny

The Italians kicked off the tournament with a win, but let’s temper the euphoria. A narrow 1-0 success against Australia shouldn’t be misleading. The sole goal came from a penalty in just the 10th minute, after which the “Squadra Azzurra” failed to score from open play.

Coach Nunziata’s Candid Assessment

Coach Carmine Nunziata himself spoke candidly after the match: “We are a new team, assembled just 5 days ago, and it’s normal that there are things we need to fix.” He also noted that his players had to “suffer” to hold onto the victory. These are not the words of a coach whose team is ready to dominate opponents one after another.

Statistical Insights Against Australia

The statistics from the Australia match corroborate these statements. While Italy had 17 shots, only 5 of them were on target. Their Expected Goals (xG) stood at 2.00, yet only one goal was scored, and that was from the spot. Meanwhile, the Australians created 3 clear goal-scoring opportunities – precisely as many as the Italians themselves – and their xG reached 1.03. The “Azzurrini” defense is far from flawless, and that’s a fact.

Resilient Performance Against Argentina

Yes, the Cubans lost 1-3 to Argentina. But to whom did they lose? To one of the tournament’s main favorites, six-time world champions in this age category. Even playing most of the match with a man advantage after an Argentine red card in the 10th minute, confronting such an opponent is an immensely difficult task.

Cuba’s Attacking Threat

What’s important is that Cuba didn’t collapse. They fought and found their goal late in the first half when Karel Pérez scored against the “Albiceleste”. And this was no fluke. Throughout the match, the Cubans created chances with a total Expected Goals (xG) of 1.20 and had 2 clear goal-scoring opportunities. This indicates their capability to penetrate even top-tier defenses.

Familiar Faces and Unwavering Spirit

In attack, they boast Alessio Raballo from the Cremonese system, who is well-acquainted with Italian football. This is a team that won’t give up and will fight for every chance. They played without complexes against Argentina, and there’s no reason to think it will be any different against Italy.