Italy u21s are facing two crucial games between now and the rest of this month in the quest to usurp Sweden u21s at the top of the Group F table with the knowledge that winning the group will guarantee a place at the UEFA European u-21 Championship in Georgia and Romania next year.

The Italy u21s will face Montenegro away from home in the first of those two games before taking on Bosnia and Herzegovina at home in the second game. The Montenegro game will take place on Friday, March 25, while the Bosnia game is scheduled for next week Tuesday.

Apart from Sweden, Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina, Luxembourg and the Republic of Ireland are also in Group F alongside the Italians. Of all the six teams in the group, the Italy u21s have played the least number of games. The Italians have played just five games from the mandatory ten games, but they still find themselves in second spot behind Sweden. Only the Sweden u21s stand in their way as far as top spot in Group F is concerned.

As things stand on the Group F standings, Sweden are at the top of the table with 14 points from seven games and they are one point ahead of the Italians who are on 13 points from five games. The Italy u21s have only dropped points in one of their five games in Group F and that was the 1-1 draw at home to leaders Sweden in their last game.

Luxembourg are already out of contention for the UEFA u-21 European Championship next year after losing all their six games and are rooted to the bottom of the table. The Republic of Ireland are in third spot with ten points from six games. Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro are in fourth and fifth respectively with eight and seven points from seven games each.