LIVESTREAM: Team Italy To Face France In International Friendly
In preparation for the IFAF Europe Group B qualifying tournaments in September, Team Italy will take on France in a friendly Sunday July 17 in Castel Giorgio, Italy.
Italy will play Team Israel in their first qualifying game on September 2.
Meanwhile, French head coach Patrick Esume and his coaching staff with a roster of 51 players were in training camp in Amiens, France this week, preparing for the game against Italy.
Italy played an exhibition game against Switzerland in January losing 12-9 to a Swiss team also preparing for the Group B qualifier. France last played in the IFAF 2015 World Championship where they lost to Mexico in the Bronze medal game in Canton, Ohio.
Starting at quarterback for Italy will likely be Parma Panthers signal caller Tommasso Monardi a veteran of international play. His counterpart for France may well be Sullivan Silverio, quarterback for French finalists the Nice Dauphins.
The likely starting running back for Italy is Alessandro Di Giorgio while Esume’s Team France may look to veteran national team player Brice Rontet although Jason Aguemon has looked good in camp as well.
Tommaso Finadri leads a veteran receiving corps for Italy while Jefferson Alexandre and Patrick Botela from the French champion St. Ouen Cougars are among France’s receivers for this game.
Italian champions, the Milano Rhinos have eight players on Team Italy’s roster while the Bolzano Giants are represented by seven players. There are six Parma Panthers on the roster and five from the Milano Seamen.
Team Italy’s secondary will feature two members of Germany’s Schwabisch Hall Unicorns as Cody Pastorino and Brian Micchitti will play.
The reigning French champion St. Ouen Cougars are represented by six players with the Nice Dauphins having five on Team France’s roster. Mamadou Sy from Germany’s Braunschweig New Yorker Lions leads an impressive defensive line for France.
Italy’s head coach Davide Giuliano:
“The goal of this game is to focus on giving our best against a very valuable opponent and learn from this experience.”
France – Team France roster July 2016
Kickoff: Sunday July 17, 6 PM (12 Noon EDT)
The Team Italy Under 19 squad will face Team Spain on Saturday in a weekend of American football.
Kickoff: Saturday July 16, 5 PM (11 AM EDT)
