Italy national under-21 football team

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Italy Under-21
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Gli Azzurrini
(The Little Blues)
AssociationItalian Football Federation
(Federazion Italia Giuoco Calcio – FIGC)
Head coachPaolo Nicolato
CaptainSandro Tonali
Most capsAndrea Pirlo (46)
Top scorerAlberto Gilardino (19)
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
First international
U-23: Italy Italy 3–1 Austria Austria
(Varese, Italy; 1 November 1970)
U-21: Portugal Portugal 1–0 Italy Italy
(Funchal, Italy; 23 December 1976)
Biggest win
Italy Italy 7–0 Estonia Estonia
(Catanzaro, Italy; 23 March 1995)
Italy Italy 8–1 Wales Wales
(Pavia, Italy; 5 September 2003)
Italy Italy 7–0 Liechtenstein Liechtenstein
(Casarano, Italy; 6 September 2012)
Biggest defeat
Norway Norway 6–0 Italy Italy
(Stavanger, Norway; 5 June 1991)
Records for competitive
matches only.
Olympic Games
Appearances5 (first in 1992)
Best resultBronze medal.svg Bronze medallist: (2004)
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances21 (first in 1978)
Best resultChampions: (1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004)
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
Europe 1978 Quarter-finals
Europe 1980 Quarter-finals
Europe 1982 Quarter-finals
Europe 1984 Semi-finals
Europe 1986 Runners-up
Europe 1988 Quarter-finals
Europe 1990 Semi-finals
Europe 1992 Winners
France 1994 Winners
Spain 1996 Winners
Romania 1998 Did not qualify
Slovakia 2000 Winners
Switzerland 2002 Semi-finals
Germany 2004 Winners
Portugal 2006 Group stage
Netherlands 2007 Group stage
Sweden 2009 Semi-finals
Denmark 2011 Did not qualify
Israel 2013 Runners-up
Czech Republic 2015 Group stage
Poland 2017 Semi-finals
Italy 2019 Group stage
Hungary Slovenia 2021 Quarter-finals
Romania Georgia (country) 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 Italy Paolo Nicolato
Assistant Coach Italy Mirco Gasparetto
Goalkeeping Coach Italy Matteo Mareggini
Team Manager Italy Massimo Paganin
Athletic Trainers Italy Vincenzo Pincolini
Match Analyst Italy Francesco Bordin
Doctors Italy Angelo De Carli
Italy Vincenzo Santoriello
Physiotherapists Italy Nicola Sanna
Italy Emiliano Bozzetti
Physiologist Italy Christian Osgnach
Accompanying Manager Italy Vincenzo Marinelli
Secretary Italy 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 Pisa, Italy
17:00 Sottil Goal 43'
Cutrone Goal 62'
Report Stadium: Arena Garibaldi – Stadio Romeo Anconetani
Note: Due to several Covid-19 matters, Under 20 team played instead of U21, as per FIGC decision.[4]
12 November 2020 (2020-11-12)[note 1] 2021 Championship qual. Iceland  1–2  Italy Reykjavík, Iceland
14:15 (13:15 WET) Report
  • Pobega Goal 35'88'
Stadium: Víkingsvöllur
Referee: Ioannis Papadopoulos (Greece)
15 November 2020 2021 Championship qual. Luxembourg  0–4  Italy Differdange, Luxembourg
17.30 Report Scamacca Goal 15'29'
Pinamonti Goal 56'
Marchizza Goal 66'
Stadium: Stade Municipal de Differdange
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele (Malta)
Note: The match was originally scheduled for 26 March 2020, but was postponed on 13 March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.[6]
18 November 2020 2021 Championship qual. Italy  4–1  Sweden Pisa, Italy
17:30 Maleh Goal 27'
Raspadori Goal 48'61'
Scamacca Goal 68'
Report Karlsson Goal 50' Stadium: Arena Garibaldi – Stadio Romeo Anconetani
Referee: Stuart Attwell (England)
Note: The match was originally scheduled for 26 March 2020, but was postponed on 13 March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.[6]

2021[]

24 March 2021 2021 UEFA U21 Championship Czech Republic  1–1  Italy Celje, Slovenia
18:00 Maggiore Goal 75' (o.g.) Report Scamacca Goal 31' Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele
Attendance: 0[7]
Referee: (Netherlands)
27 March 2021 2021 UEFA U21 Championship Spain  0–0  Italy Maribor, Slovenia
21:00 Report Stadium: Ljudski vrt
Attendance: 0[8]
Referee: Harm Osmers (Germany)
30 March 2021 2021 UEFA U21 Championship Italy  4–0  Slovenia Maribor, Slovenia
21:00 Maggiore Goal 10'
Raspadori Goal 19'
Cutrone Goal 25' (pen.)50'
Report Stadium: Ljudski vrt
Attendance: 0[9][note 2]
Referee: Bartosz Frankowski (Poland)
31 May 2021 (2021-05-31) 2021 UEFA U21 Championship Portugal  5–3 (a.e.t.)  Italy Ljubljana, Slovenia
21:00 Mota Goal 6'31'
Ramos Goal 58'
Jota
Goal 109'Conceição Goal 119'
Report Pobega Goal 45'
Scamacca Goal 60'
Cutrone Goal 89'
Stadium: Stadion Stožice
Attendance: 1,032[10]
Referee: François Letexier (France)
3 September 2021 (2021-09-03) 2023 Championship qual. Italy  3–0  Luxembourg Empoli, Italy
17.30 Pirola Goal 7'
Goal 11' (o.g.)
Cancellieri Goal 50'
Report Stadium: Stadio Carlo Castellani
Referee: (Slovenia)
7 September 2021 (2021-09-07) 2023 Championship qual. Italy  1–0  Montenegro Vicenza, Italy
17.30 Colombo Goal 53' Report Stadium: Stadio Romeo Menti
8 October 2021 (2021-10-08) 2023 Championship qual. Bosnia and Herzegovina  v  Italy Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Stadium: Bosnia and Herzegovina FA Training Centre
12 October 2021 (2021-10-12) 2023 Championship qual. Italy  v  Sweden Monza, Italy
Stadium: Stadio Brianteo
12 November 2021 (2021-11-12) 2023 Championship qual. Republic of Ireland  v  Italy

2022[]

25 March 2022 (2022-03-25) 2023 Championship qual. Montenegro  v  Italy
6 June 2022 (2022-06-06) 2023 Championship qual. Luxembourg  v  Italy
9 June 2022 (2022-06-09) 2023 Championship qual. Sweden  v  Italy

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
1GK Marco Carnesecchi (2000-07-01) 1 July 2000 (age 21) 14 0 Italy Cremonese
1GK Alessandro Plizzari (2000-03-12) 12 March 2000 (age 21) 2 0 Italy Milan
1GK Alessandro Russo (2001-03-31) 31 March 2001 (age 20) 0 0 Italy Alessandria

2DF Raoul Bellanova (2000-05-17) 17 May 2000 (age 21) 9 0 Italy Cagliari
2DF Matteo Lovato (2000-02-14) 14 February 2000 (age 21) 5 0 Italy Atalanta
2DF Lorenzo Pirola (2002-02-20) 20 February 2002 (age 19) 3 1 Italy Monza
2DF Riccardo Calafiori (2002-05-19) 19 May 2002 (age 19) 2 0 Italy Roma
2DF Gabriele Ferrarini (2000-04-09) 9 April 2000 (age 21) 2 0 Italy Perugia
2DF Destiny Udogie (2002-11-28) 28 November 2002 (age 18) 2 0 Italy Udinese
2DF Andrea Carboni (2001-02-04) 4 February 2001 (age 20) 1 0 Italy Cagliari
2DF Caleb Okoli (2001-07-13) 13 July 2001 (age 20) 1 0 Italy Cremonese
2DF Andrea Cambiaso (2000-02-20) 20 February 2000 (age 21) 0 0 Italy Genoa
2DF Andrea Papetti (2002-07-03) 3 July 2002 (age 19) 0 0 Italy Brescia

3MF Sandro Tonali (2000-05-08) 8 May 2000 (age 21) 9 0 Italy Milan
3MF Nicolò Rovella (2001-12-04) 4 December 2001 (age 19) 7 0 Italy Genoa
3MF Samuele Ricci (2001-08-21) 21 August 2001 (age 20) 6 0 Italy Empoli
3MF Nicolò Fagioli (2001-02-12) 12 February 2001 (age 20) 1 0 Italy Cremonese
3MF Marco Brescianini (2000-01-20) 20 January 2000 (age 21) 1 0 Italy Monza
3MF Jacopo Da Riva (2000-10-27) 27 October 2000 (age 20) 0 0 Italy SPAL
3MF Filippo Ranocchia (2001-05-14) 14 May 2001 (age 20) 0 0 Italy Vicenza

4FW Lorenzo Colombo (2002-03-08) 8 March 2002 (age 19) 3 1 Italy SPAL
4FW Matteo Cancellieri (2002-02-12) 12 February 2002 (age 19) 2 1 Italy Verona
4FW Kelvin Yeboah (2000-05-06) 6 May 2000 (age 21) 2 0 Austria Sturm Graz
4FW Eddie Salcedo (2001-10-01) 1 October 2001 (age 19) 2 0 Italy Spezia
4FW Lorenzo Lucca (2000-09-10) 10 September 2000 (age 21) 1 0 Italy Pisa
4FW Samuele Mulattieri (2000-10-07) 7 October 2000 (age 20) 1 0 Italy 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 (2001-09-05) 5 September 2001 (age 20) 0 0 Italy Reggina v. Sweden, 18 November 2020
GK Federico Brancolini (2001-07-14) 14 July 2001 (age 20) 0 0 Italy Fiorentina v. Luxembourg, 15 November 2020

DF Antonino Gallo (2000-01-05) 5 January 2000 (age 21) 0 0 Italy Lecce v. Luxembourg, 3 September 2021 INJ

MF Salvatore Esposito (2000-10-07) 7 October 2000 (age 20) 2 0 Italy SPAL Preliminary stage May 2021
MF Mattia Viviani (2000-09-04) 4 September 2000 (age 21) 0 0 Unattached Preliminary stage May 2021
MF Hans Nicolussi (2000-06-18) 18 June 2000 (age 21) 1 0 Italy Juventus U23 v. Republic of Ireland, 13 October 2020
MF Manolo Portanova (2000-06-02) 2 June 2000 (age 21) 1 0 Italy Genoa v. Republic of Ireland, 13 October 2020

FW Roberto Piccoli (2001-01-27) 27 January 2001 (age 20) 1 0 Italy Atalanta v. Luxembourg, 3 September 2021 INJ
FW Sebastiano Esposito (2002-07-02) 2 July 2002 (age 19) 1 0 Switzerland Basel v. Luxembourg, 3 September 2021 INJ
FW Emanuel Vignato (2000-08-24) 24 August 2000 (age 21) 0 0 Italy Bologna v. Luxembourg, 3 September 2021 INJ
FW Giacomo Raspadori (2000-02-18) 18 February 2000 (age 21) 8 3 Italy Sassuolo UEFA Euro 2021
FW Gianluca Gaetano (2000-05-05) 5 May 2000 (age 21) 0 0 Italy 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[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ 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]
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Behind closed doors was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

References[]

  1. ^ "Categories - All 4". www.channel4.com.
  2. ^ "Staff" (in Italian). FIGC. 18 March 2021.
  3. ^ "FIGC". www.figc.it. 7 February 2020.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "Leik U21 karla gegn Ítalíu frestað vegna Covid-smits í ítalska hópnum". Knattspyrnusamband Íslands. 9 October 2020.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "The English FA suspends all activities: England vs. Italy cancelled". FIGC.it. 13 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Czech Republich vs. Italy". Union of European Football Associations. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Spain vs. Italy". Union of European Football Associations. 27 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Italy vs. Slovenia". Union of European Football Associations. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Portugal vs. Italy". Union of European Football Associations. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  11. ^ (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)
  12. ^ "Classifica Presenze". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (in Italian). 24 September 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Classifica Marcatori". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (in Italian). 5 August 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2021.

External links[]

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