Stark urges young Scots to match Italy

BILLY Stark insists his Scotland Under-21 side should revel in getting the opportunity to face their formidable Italian counterparts, just as he will relish learning from facing a team that bears the hallmark of the great Arrigo Sacchi.

Sacchi, the legendary former AC Milan and Italy manager, was last year charged with overhauling the Azzurri’s floundering youth system and could be at Easter Road this evening to take in his country’s friendly against Scotland. The young Italians, coached by one-time Napoli and Juventus defender Ciro Ferrara, have since won all five of their qualifiers for next summer’s European Championships and will present an exacting test for Stark’s outfit ahead of next month’s meeting with Bulgaria.

Stark said: “You always look forward to playing Italy because there are so many things that you admire about them. Some people could come up with a few negative things but that has changed over the years.

“Sacchi in the 80s and 90s had a great Milan team and his philosophy changed Italian football.

“He’s now in charge of the under-21s as well as the full youth set up. I can see similarities in how they try to play so that’s going to be a great test and I’m a big admirer of that type of football. They are always really well prepared and Italian players are always focused and very professional.

“You can only learn against them and they have been impressive in their European Championship campaign. They also drew with France in a friendly. The most important aspect is that it’s a preparation game and against world-class opponents.”

Without star striker Jordan Rhodes and Michael O’Halloran because of club duty, and with the likes of 16-year-old Islam Feruz and uncapped trio Rhys McCabe of Rangers, Dylan McGeouch of Celtic and Kenny McLean of St Mirren all in line for a first run-out, Stark believes the Italian friendly will prove a worthwhile exercise.

He added: “We are underdogs in this game but that’s something we can take confidence from.”