Hat Trick Masterclass: Italy U21 Playmaker Tommaso Baldanzi

Hat-tricks don’t come much better than Tommaso Baldanzi’s for Italy Under-21 against Norway.

In what was only his fifth game for the Azzurrini, Baldanzi showcased what he can do when given a chance from the off.

Italy went into the game sitting top of qualification Group A, with the Republic of Ireland behind by just two points. A win against Norway would’ve gone a long way in giving Carmine Nunziata’s side breathing space at the top of the table and qualification moved one step closer with a win in Stavanager.

Baldanzi then decided to put on an exhibition which would not have gone unnoticed by Nunziata and Roma boss Daniele De Rossi.

His first goal, coming inside the opening 10 minutes, was a perfectly-placed strike. Moreover, it was actually a move Baldanzi started and finished. The forward took possession of the ball down the left-hand channel of Norway’s half before slipping it centrally to defender Diego Coppola, who in turn zipped it into the feet of Francesco Esposito on the edge of the box. 

Esposito produced a beautiful flick around the corner to Leeds forward Wilfried Gnonto, who slipped the ball into the path of the onrushing Baldanzi, who sat the goalkeeper down and delicately placed the ball into the corner. It was beautiful stuff from Italy.

Baldanzi then had to wait until the final 20 minutes of the game to net a second time. Once again it was a sweeping move from Italy, Gnonto and Atalanta left-back Matteo Ruggeri combined brilliantly down the left-hand side, before the latter then found Baldanzi completely unmarked in the penalty box.

The Roma striker took several touches without being challenged, before rifling the ball high into the Norwegian goal, with the ball smashing the underside of the crossbar en route to the net. It was as emphatic a finish as you will see this week.

Baldanzi left the best to last. Eight minutes after his second, he completed the hat-trick. The Italy forward was slipped through by Bologna midfielder Giovanni Fabbian and, now running toward the Norway goal, he tied defender Mathias Lovik in knots on the edge of the penalty box, before opening his body and bending a delightful left-footed pearler into the top right-hand corner of Sander Tangvik’s goal. There was little the 21-year-old could do about any of them.

The win means all Italy now need is a point from the game with Ireland in October to guarantee qualification to Euro Under-21 2025 in Slovakia. 

As for Baldanzi, the 21-year-old did his chances of receiving more game time under De Rossi no harm with the display in Norway. Signed from Empoli in the final week of the January transfer window, the youngster hasn’t really had a consistent run of games in the Italian capital to show what he can do. 

Of course, with Paulo Dybala at the club — a player Baldanzi models himself on —makes things a little trickier, yet given the Argentine’s injury track record in recent years, there is room in the starting XI for Baldanzi. A nifty operator who is both-footed and capable of playing across the front line, Baldanzi only broke into Empoli’s first team on the final day of the 2021/22 season.

The following campaign saw him become an automatic starter and into last season, when Roma snapped him up for around €10million (£8.4m) . It could be argued that the move to Roma was a bit premature for a player at his development stage, but the Giallorossi clearly believe in Baldanzi, despite his lack of minutes. 

Dybala remains the undisputed creative force at the club, but with Matias Soule now arriving from Juventus, Baldanzi will have to fight hard to earn minutes. Yet with Roma in three competitions this season, there should be enough games for the 21-year-old, and he’s received plaudits from none other than a man who knows a thing or two about Rome, Francesco Totti.

“I’ve always liked him as a player and a guy,” Totti told Sky Sport Italia. “He has a career ahead of him, making comparisons seems counteractive and unfair to him. I’m happy for him, I hope it’s a good omen for him to continue at this level.”

Baldanzi’s greatest influence was his grandfather, who ignited his love for the game by taking him to the park when he was little. “My father likes basketball more,” he confessed to Sportsweek. Baldanzi’s grandfather passed away, but the player keeps “him close” to his thoughts and, after his performance against Norway, he’s no doubt smiling somewhere. 

Baldanzi will hope his goals make De Rossi take notice. With Roma struggling in the opening weeks of the season, the 2006 World Cup winner may just be inclined to give the youngster a real chance.

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