Italy national under-21 football team
Nickname(s) | Gli Azzurrini (The Little Blues) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Association | Italian Football Federation (Federazion Italia Giuoco Calcio – FIGC) | |||
Head coach | Paolo Nicolato | |||
Captain | Sandro Tonali | |||
Most caps | Andrea Pirlo (46) | |||
Top scorer | Alberto Gilardino (19) | |||
| ||||
First international | ||||
U-23: Italy 3–1 Austria (Varese, Italy; 1 November 1970) U-21: Portugal 1–0 Italy (Funchal, Italy; 23 December 1976) | ||||
Biggest win | ||||
Italy 7–0 Estonia (Catanzaro, Italy; 23 March 1995) Italy 8–1 Wales (Pavia, Italy; 5 September 2003) Italy 7–0 Liechtenstein (Casarano, Italy; 6 September 2012) | ||||
Biggest defeat | ||||
Norway 6–0 Italy (Stavanger, Norway; 5 June 1991) matches only. | ||||
Olympic Games | ||||
Appearances | 5 (first in 1992) | |||
Best result | Bronze medallist: (2004) | |||
UEFA U-21 Championship | ||||
Appearances | 21 (first in 1978) | |||
Best result | Champions: (1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004) | |||
show
Medal record |
The Italy national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Italy and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation.
The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, held every two years. Italy (along with Spain) is the most successful nation in the history of the competition, with five Championships won (1992, 1994, 1996, 2000 and 2004). Italy has also been twice runner-up of the competition, in 1986 and 2013.
From 1990 to 2004 the team established near-total dominance of European Under-21 football, winning five of the seven tournaments.
Italy's Under-21s played the first match at the new Wembley Stadium, on 24 March 2007, against England Under-21s. The game resulted in a 3–3 draw, with Giampaolo Pazzini scoring all 3 goals for the Azzurrini.
Prior to the 2008 Olympic games, Italy U-21s went on to win the 2008 Toulon Tournament by beating Chile (1–0) in the final. It was the first time they had won this tournament, previously their best had been runner-up on two occasions.[1]
UEFA European Under-21 Championship[]
Since the under-21 competition rules insist that players must be 21 or under at the start of a two-year competition, technically it is an U-23 competition. For this reason, Italy's record in the preceding U-23 competitions is also shown.
- 1972: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 3 in qualification group.
- 1974: Losing quarter-finalists.
- 1976: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 3 in qualification group.
UEFA U-21 Championship Record[]
Year | Round |
---|---|
1978 | Quarter-finals |
1980 | Quarter-finals |
1982 | Quarter-finals |
1984 | Semi-finals |
1986 | Runners-up |
1988 | Quarter-finals |
1990 | Semi-finals |
1992 | Winners |
1994 | Winners |
1996 | Winners |
1998 | Did not qualify |
2000 | Winners |
2002 | Semi-finals |
2004 | Winners |
2006 | Group stage |
2007 | Group stage |
2009 | Semi-finals |
2011 | Did not qualify |
2013 | Runners-up |
2015 | Group stage |
2017 | Semi-finals |
2019 | Group stage |
2021 | Quarter-finals |
2023 | TBD |
Total | 21/23 |
- *Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
Olympics football Record[]
Since 1992 Olympic football changed to a U-23 event, and the European U-21 teams are technically U-23 teams. European national teams qualify for the Olympic football tournament through the UEFA European U-21 Championship.
- Before 1992: See Italy national football team
- 1992: Quarter-finals
- 1996: Group stage
- 2000: Quarter-finals
- 2004: Bronze Medal
- 2008: Quarter-finals
- 2012: Did not qualify
- 2016: Did not qualify
- 2020: Did not qualify
Mediterranean Games Record[]
Mediterranean Games Football tournament was U-23 event in 1993 and 1997.
- 1993: 4th place
- 1997: Winners
- 2001: a U20 event
- 2005: filled with B team
Honours[]
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- Winner: 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004
- Runner-up: 1986, 2013
Coaches[]
- 1976–1986: Azeglio Vicini
- 1986–1996: Cesare Maldini
- 1996–1997:
- 1997–2000: Marco Tardelli
- 2000–2006: Claudio Gentile
- 2006–2010: Pierluigi Casiraghi
- 2010–2012: Ciro Ferrara
- 2012–2013: Devis Mangia
- 2013–2019: Luigi Di Biagio
- 2019–present: Paolo Nicolato
Coaching staff[]
Current technical staff:[2]
Position | Name |
---|---|
Head Coach | Paolo Nicolato |
Assistant Coach | Mirco Gasparetto |
Goalkeeping Coach | Matteo Mareggini |
Team Manager | Massimo Paganin |
Athletic Trainers | Vincenzo Pincolini |
Match Analyst | Francesco Bordin |
Doctors | Angelo De Carli Vincenzo Santoriello |
Physiotherapists | Nicola Sanna Emiliano Bozzetti |
Physiologist | Christian Osgnach |
Accompanying Manager | Vincenzo Marinelli |
Secretary | Manfredi Martino |
Recent results and forthcoming fixtures[]
Only official matches are listed.[3]
2020[]
13 October 2020 2021 Championship qual. | Italy | 2–0 | Republic of Ireland | showPisa, Italy |
15 November 2020 2021 Championship qual. | Luxembourg | 0–4 | Italy | showDifferdange, Luxembourg |
2021[]
24 March 2021 2021 UEFA U21 Championship | Czech Republic | 1–1 | Italy | showCelje, Slovenia |
3 September 2021 2023 Championship qual. | Italy | 3–0 | Luxembourg | showEmpoli, Italy |
7 September 2021 2023 Championship qual. | Italy | 1–0 | Montenegro | showVicenza, Italy |
8 October 2021 2023 Championship qual. | Bosnia and Herzegovina | v | Italy | showZenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
12 October 2021 2023 Championship qual. | Italy | v | Sweden | showMonza, Italy |
12 November 2021 2023 Championship qual. | Republic of Ireland | v | Italy |
2022[]
25 March 2022 2023 Championship qual. | Montenegro | v | Italy |
29 March 2022 2023 Championship qual. | Italy | v | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
6 June 2022 2023 Championship qual. | Luxembourg | v | Italy |
9 June 2022 2023 Championship qual. | Sweden | v | Italy |
14 June 2022 2023 Championship qual. | Italy | v | Republic of Ireland |
Players[]
Players born in 2000 or later are eligible for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Players in bold have been already capped with the senior team.
Current squad[]
The following players have been called up for the qualification matches against Luxembourg on 3 September 2021 and Montenegro on 7 September 2021.[11]
Caps and goals updated as of 7 September 2021, after the match against Montenegro.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Marco Carnesecchi | 1 July 2000 | 14 | 0 | Cremonese | |
GK | Alessandro Plizzari | 12 March 2000 | 2 | 0 | Milan | |
GK | Alessandro Russo | 31 March 2001 | 0 | 0 | Alessandria | |
DF | Raoul Bellanova | 17 May 2000 | 9 | 0 | Cagliari | |
DF | Matteo Lovato | 14 February 2000 | 5 | 0 | Atalanta | |
DF | Lorenzo Pirola | 20 February 2002 | 3 | 1 | Monza | |
DF | Riccardo Calafiori | 19 May 2002 | 2 | 0 | Roma | |
DF | Gabriele Ferrarini | 9 April 2000 | 2 | 0 | Perugia | |
DF | Destiny Udogie | 28 November 2002 | 2 | 0 | Udinese | |
DF | Andrea Carboni | 4 February 2001 | 1 | 0 | Cagliari | |
DF | Caleb Okoli | 13 July 2001 | 1 | 0 | Cremonese | |
DF | Andrea Cambiaso | 20 February 2000 | 0 | 0 | Genoa | |
DF | Andrea Papetti | 3 July 2002 | 0 | 0 | Brescia | |
MF | Sandro Tonali | 8 May 2000 | 9 | 0 | Milan | |
MF | Nicolò Rovella | 4 December 2001 | 7 | 0 | Genoa | |
MF | Samuele Ricci | 21 August 2001 | 6 | 0 | Empoli | |
MF | Nicolò Fagioli | 12 February 2001 | 1 | 0 | Cremonese | |
MF | Marco Brescianini | 20 January 2000 | 1 | 0 | Monza | |
MF | Jacopo Da Riva | 27 October 2000 | 0 | 0 | SPAL | |
MF | Filippo Ranocchia | 14 May 2001 | 0 | 0 | Vicenza | |
FW | Lorenzo Colombo | 8 March 2002 | 3 | 1 | SPAL | |
FW | Matteo Cancellieri | 12 February 2002 | 2 | 1 | Verona | |
FW | Kelvin Yeboah | 6 May 2000 | 2 | 0 | Sturm Graz | |
FW | Eddie Salcedo | 1 October 2001 | 2 | 0 | Spezia | |
FW | Lorenzo Lucca | 10 September 2000 | 1 | 0 | Pisa | |
FW | Samuele Mulattieri | 7 October 2000 | 1 | 0 | Crotone |
Recent call-ups[]
Following are listed players called up in the previous 12 months that are still eligible to represent the Under-21 team.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Stefano Turati | 5 September 2001 | 0 | 0 | Reggina | v. Sweden, 18 November 2020 |
GK | Federico Brancolini | 14 July 2001 | 0 | 0 | Fiorentina | v. Luxembourg, 15 November 2020 |
DF | Antonino Gallo | 5 January 2000 | 0 | 0 | Lecce | v. Luxembourg, 3 September 2021 INJ |
MF | Salvatore Esposito | 7 October 2000 | 2 | 0 | SPAL | Preliminary stage May 2021 |
MF | Mattia Viviani | 4 September 2000 | 0 | 0 | Unattached | Preliminary stage May 2021 |
MF | Hans Nicolussi | 18 June 2000 | 1 | 0 | Juventus U23 | v. Republic of Ireland, 13 October 2020 |
MF | Manolo Portanova | 2 June 2000 | 1 | 0 | Genoa | v. Republic of Ireland, 13 October 2020 |
FW | Roberto Piccoli | 27 January 2001 | 1 | 0 | Atalanta | v. Luxembourg, 3 September 2021 INJ |
FW | Sebastiano Esposito | 2 July 2002 | 1 | 0 | Basel | v. Luxembourg, 3 September 2021 INJ |
FW | Emanuel Vignato | 24 August 2000 | 0 | 0 | Bologna | v. Luxembourg, 3 September 2021 INJ |
FW | Giacomo Raspadori | 18 February 2000 | 8 | 3 | Sassuolo | UEFA Euro 2021 |
FW | Gianluca Gaetano | 5 May 2000 | 0 | 0 | Cremonese | Preliminary stage May 2021 |
INJ Withdrew due to injury |
Records[]
Players in bold are still eligible to represent Under-21 team. As of 31 May 2021.
Top appearances[]
The following is the top 10 most capped under-21 players:[12]
Rank | Player | Period | U-21 Caps |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Andrea Pirlo | 1998–2002 | 46 |
2 | Marco Motta | 2005–2009 | 38 |
3 | Francesco Bardi | 2011–2015 | 37 |
4 | Matteo Brighi | 2000–2004 | 35 |
5 | Daniele Bonera | 2001–2004 | 34 |
6 | Matteo Ferrari | 1999–2002 | 33 |
7 | Luca Marrone | 2009–2013 | 32 |
Alessandro Rosina | 2004–2007 | 32 | |
9 | Luca Caldirola | 2010–2013 | 31 |
Marco Donadel | 2004–2006 | 31 |
Top goalscorers[]
The following is the top 10 under-21 goalscorers:[13]
Rank | Player | Period | U-21 Goals | U-21 Caps |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Alberto Gilardino | 2000–2004 | 19 | 30 |
2 | Andrea Pirlo | 1998–2002 | 16 | 46 |
3 | Manolo Gabbiadini | 2010–2013 | 12 | 24 |
4 | Patrick Cutrone | 2017–2021 | 11 | 25 |
Massimo Maccarone | 2000–2002 | 11 | 15 | |
Gianluca Vialli | 1983–1986 | 11 | 20 | |
7 | Robert Acquafresca | 2007–2009 | 10 | 16 |
Cristiano Lucarelli | 1996–1997 | 10 | 10 | |
Christian Vieri | 1992–1996 | 10 | 19 | |
10 | Andrea Belotti | 2013–2015 | 9 | 18 |
Ciro Immobile | 2009–2013 | 9 | 16 | |
Roberto Mancini | 1982–1986 | 9 | 26 | |
Alberto Paloschi | 2008–2013 | 9 | 29 | |
Gianluca Scamacca | 2018–2021 | 9 | 15 |
See also[]
- Italy national football team
- Italy national under-20 football team
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- Football at the Summer Olympics
Notes[]
- ^ The match between Iceland and Italy was originally scheduled on 9 October 2020, 15:30 WET, at Víkingsvöllur, Reykjavík, but was postponed due to members of the Italy team testing positive for the COVID-19 virus.[5]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Behind closed doors
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
References[]
- ^ "Categories - All 4". www.channel4.com.
- ^ "Staff" (in Italian). FIGC. 18 March 2021.
- ^ "FIGC". www.figc.it. 7 February 2020.
- ^ "Qualificazioni europee: sarà la Nazionale Under 20 ad affrontare la Repubblica d'Irlanda". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (in Italian). 12 October 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ "Leik U21 karla gegn Ítalíu frestað vegna Covid-smits í ítalska hópnum". Knattspyrnusamband Íslands. 9 October 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "The English FA suspends all activities: England vs. Italy cancelled". FIGC.it. 13 March 2020.
- ^ "Czech Republich vs. Italy". Union of European Football Associations. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ "Spain vs. Italy". Union of European Football Associations. 27 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- ^ "Italy vs. Slovenia". Union of European Football Associations. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ^ "Portugal vs. Italy". Union of European Football Associations. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ (in Italian). 27 August 2021 https://www.figc.it/it/nazionali/news/parte-il-nuovo-biennio-ventisei-convocati-nel-gruppo-dieci-volti-nuovi-per-nicolato/. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - ^ "Classifica Presenze". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (in Italian). 24 September 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ "Classifica Marcatori". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (in Italian). 5 August 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
External links[]
- Official website, Italian language
- Official website, English language
- The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Contains full record of U-21/U-23 Championships.
- Italy national under-21 football team
- European national under-21 association football teams
- Youth football in Italy