Ciro Ferrara: 'Italy have good young prospects'

Former Italy Under-21 coach Ciro Ferrara has insisted that the new coach Luigi Di Biagio has a good base of talented youngsters coming through.

Ferrara, a former player for Napoli and Juventus, picked out three out-on-loan Inter Milan players who could become stars of Italy in the future.

"Goalkeeper Francesco Bardi [at Livorno] will be important," Ferrara told TMW. "Then there is [Crotone] midfielder Lorenzo Crisetig who I think has great qualities. He will be a player to keep an eye on.

"There is also [Verona striker] Samuele Longo who started in the U-21s with me. There will be other players unearthed too, but Gigi has a good base to work with."

Di Biagio took over the U21s this year having previously coached the Under-20s.