Italy national under-21 football team

Italy national under-21 football team
Medal record
Men's Football

Italy Under-21
Nickname(s)	Gli Azzurrini ; (The Little Blues)
Association	Italian Football Federation ; (Federazion Italia Giuoco Calcio – FIGC)
Head coach	Carmine Nunziata
Captain	Lorenzo Pirola
Most caps	Andrea Pirlo (46)
Top scorer	Alberto Gilardino (19)
First colours	Second colours
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); San Marino 0–7 Italy ; (Serravale, San Marino; 16 November 2023)
Biggest defeat
	Norway 6–0 Italy ; (Stavanger, Norway; 5 June 1991); Records for competitive; matches only.
Olympic Games
Appearances	5 (first in 1992)
Best result	Bronze medallist: (2004)
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances	22 (first in 1978)
Best result	Champions (1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004)
Medal record
Medal record
Men's Football

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[edit]

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[edit]

Year	Round
1978	Quarter-finals
1980	Quarter-finals
1982	Quarter-finals
1984	Semi-finals
1986	Runners-up
1988	Quarter-finals
1990	Semi-finals
1992	Champions
1994	Champions
1996	Champions
1998	Did not qualify
2000	Champions
2002	Semi-finals
2004	Champions
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	Group stage
2025	TBD
Total	22/24

*Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Olympics football Record[edit]

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
2024: Did not qualify

Overage players in Olympic Games[edit]

Tournament	Player 1	Player 2	Player 3
1996	Gianluca Pagliuca (GK)	Massimo Crippa (MF)	Marco Branca (FW)
2000	Did not select
2004	Matteo Ferrari (DF)	Andrea Pirlo (MF)	Did not select
2008	Tommaso Rocchi (FW)	Did not select

Mediterranean Games Record[edit]

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[edit]

UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Winner: 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004
Runner-up: 1986, 2013

Coaches[edit]

1976–1986: Azeglio Vicini
1986–1996: Cesare Maldini
1996–1997: Rossano Giampaglia
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
2019–2023: Paolo Nicolato
2023–present: Carmine Nunziata

Coaching staff[edit]

Current technical staff:^[2]

Position	Name
Head coach	Carmine Nunziata
Assistant coaches	Emanuele Filippini Matteo Brighi
Goalkeeping coach	Fabrizio Ferron
Athletic trainer	Vito Azzone
Match analyst	Marco Mannucci
Doctors	Daniele Mazza Vincenzo Santoriello
Physiotherapists	Nicola Sanna Emiliano Bozzetti
Osteopath	Cristiano Pompili
Head of Delegation	Mauro Balata
Secretary	Manfredi Martino

Recent results and forthcoming fixtures[edit]

Only official matches are listed.^[3]

2023[edit]

22 June 2023 (2023-06-22) 2023 UEFA U21 Champ.	France	2–1	Italy	Cluj Napoca, Romania
20:45	Kalimuendo 22' Barcola 62'	Report	Pellegri 36'	Stadium: Cluj Arena Attendance: 11,286 Referee: Allard Lindhout (Netherlands)

25 June 2023 (2023-06-25) 2023 UEFA U21 Champ.	Switzerland	2–3	Italy	Cluj Napoca, Romania
18:00	Imeri 47' Amdouni 52'	Report	Pirola 6' Gnonto 11' Parisi 45+4'	Stadium: Cluj Arena Attendance: 4,339 Referee: Mohammed Al-Hakim (Sweden)

28 June 2023 (2023-06-28) 2023 UEFA U21 Champ.	Italy	0–1	Norway	Cluj Napoca, Romania
20:45		Report	Botheim 65'	Stadium: Cluj Arena Attendance: 2,347 Referee: Erik Lambrechts (Belgium)

8 September 2023 (2023-09-08) 2025 Championship qual.	Latvia	0–0	Italy	Jūrmala, Latvia
		Report		Stadium: Sloka Stadium

12 September 2023 (2023-09-12) 2025 Championship qual.	Turkey	0–2	Italy	Adapazari, Turkey
		Report	Miretti 45+3' Nasti 79'	Stadium: New Sakarya Atatürk Stadium

17 October 2023 (2023-10-17) 2025 Championship qual.	Italy	2–0	Norway	Bolzano, Italy
	Baldanzi 25' Esposito 46'	Report		Stadium: Stadio Druso

16 November 2023 (2023-11-16) 2025 Championship qual.	San Marino	0–7	Italy	Serravalle, San Marino
		Report	Pirola 5' Gnonto 31', 39' Volpato 46' Fabbian 54' Esposito 62' (pen.) Bianco 83'	Stadium: San Marino Stadium

21 November 2023 (2023-11-21) 2025 Championship qual.	Republic of Ireland	2–2	Italy	Cork, Republic of Ireland
	Phillips 31' Armstrong 47'	Report	Gnonto 45+1' (pen.), 90+6'	Stadium: Turners Cross

2024[edit]

22 March 2024 (2024-03-22) 2025 Championship qual.	Italy	2–0	Latvia	Cesena, Italy
	Casadei 32' Fabbian 79'	Report		Stadium: Stadio Dino Manuzzi

26 March 2024 (2024-03-26) 2025 Championship qual.	Italy	1–1	Turkey	Ferrara, Italy
18:15	Ghilardi 50'	Report	Kılıçsoy 90+1'	Stadium: Stadio Paolo Mazza Referee: Cesar Soto Grado (Spain)

4 June 2024 (2024-06-04) Touloune Tournament Group Stage	Italy	v	Japan U23	Vitrolles, France
15:00		Report		Stadium: Stade Jules-Ladoumègue

6 June 2024 (2024-06-06) Touloune Tournament Group Stage	Ukraine	v	Italy	Aubagne, France
15:00		Report		Stadium: Stade de Lattre-de-Tassigny

10 June 2024 (2024-06-10) Touloune Tournament Group Stage	Italy	v	Panama U23	Aubagne, France
18:15		Report		Stadium: Stade de Lattre-de-Tassigny

12 June 2024 (2024-06-12) Touloune Tournament Group Stage	Italy	v	Egypt U23	Salon-de-Provence, France
18:15		Report		Stadium: Stade d'Honneur Marcel Roustan

14 or 16 June 2024 Touloune Tournament Final TBD	Italy	v	TBD	TBD, France
TBD				Stadium: TBD

5 September 2024 2025 Championship qual.

Italy

v

San Marino

TBD, Italy

10 September 2024 2025 Championship qual.

Norway

v

Italy

TBD, Norway

15 October 2024 2025 Championship qual.

Italy

v

Republic of Ireland

TBD, Italy

Players[edit]

Players born in 2002 or later are eligible for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Players in bold have been already capped with the senior team.

Current squad[edit]

The following players were called up for the qualifying matches against Latvia and Turkey on 22 and 26 March 2024, respectively.^[4]

Caps and goals as of 26 March 2024, after the match against Turkey.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1GK	Sebastiano Desplanches	(2003-03-11) 11 March 2003 (age 21)	7	0	Palermo
1GK	Filippo Rinaldi	(2002-12-04) 4 December 2002 (age 21)	0	0	Olbia
1GK	Gioele Zacchi	(2003-07-10) 10 July 2003 (age 20)	0	0	Giana Erminio

2DF	Lorenzo Pirola (captain)	(2002-02-20) 20 February 2002 (age 22)	18	3	Salernitana
2DF	Riccardo Calafiori	(2002-05-19) 19 May 2002 (age 21)	8	0	Bologna
2DF	Matteo Ruggeri	(2002-07-11) 11 July 2002 (age 21)	8	0	Atalanta
2DF	Mattia Zanotti	(2003-02-11) 11 February 2003 (age 21)	7	0	St. Gallen
2DF	Diego Coppola	(2003-12-28) 28 December 2003 (age 20)	4	0	Hellas Verona
2DF	Daniele Ghilardi	(2003-01-06) 6 January 2003 (age 21)	4	1	Sampdoria
2DF	Michael Kayode	(2004-07-10) 10 July 2004 (age 19)	3	0	Fiorentina
2DF	Riccardo Turicchia	(2003-02-05) 5 February 2003 (age 21)	2	0	Juventus Next Gen

3MF	Cesare Casadei	(2003-01-10) 10 January 2003 (age 21)	9	1	Chelsea
3MF	Fabio Miretti	(2003-08-03) 3 August 2003 (age 20)	9	1	Juventus
3MF	Cher Ndour	(2004-07-27) 27 July 2004 (age 19)	7	0	Braga
3MF	Matteo Prati	(2003-12-28) 28 December 2003 (age 20)	7	0	Cagliari
3MF	Giovanni Fabbian	(2003-01-14) 14 January 2003 (age 21)	6	2	Bologna
3MF	Jacopo Fazzini	(2003-03-16) 16 March 2003 (age 21)	2	0	Empoli
3MF	Alessandro Bianco	(2002-10-01) 1 October 2002 (age 21)	1	1	Reggiana
3MF	Luis Hasa	(2004-01-06) 6 January 2004 (age 20)	0	0	Juventus Next Gen
3MF	Franco Tongya	(2002-03-13) 13 March 2002 (age 22)	0	0	AEK Larnaca

4FW	Lorenzo Colombo	(2002-03-08) 8 March 2002 (age 22)	20	4	Monza
4FW	Wilfried Gnonto	(2003-11-05) 5 November 2003 (age 20)	7	5	Leeds United
4FW	Gaetano Oristanio	(2002-09-28) 28 September 2002 (age 21)	7	0	Cagliari
4FW	Francesco Pio Esposito	(2005-06-28) 28 June 2005 (age 18)	6	2	Spezia
4FW	Giuseppe Ambrosino	(2003-09-10) 10 September 2003 (age 20)	2	0	Catanzaro
4FW	Cristian Volpato	(2003-11-15) 15 November 2003 (age 20)	2	1	Sassuolo

Recent call-ups[edit]

Following are listed players called up in the previous twelve months who are still eligible to represent the under-21 team.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Jacopo Sassi	(2003-07-24) 24 July 2003 (age 20)	0	0	Pro Vercelli	v. Republic of Ireland, 21 November 2023
GK	Alessandro Sorrentino	(2002-04-03) 3 April 2002 (age 22)	1	0	Monza	2023 UEFA Euro U21 ^PRE

DF	Gabriele Guarino	(2004-04-14) 14 April 2004 (age 20)	1	0	Modena	v. Republic of Ireland, 21 November 2023
DF	Tommaso Barbieri	(2002-08-26) 26 August 2002 (age 21)	0	0	Pisa	v. Republic of Ireland, 21 November 2023
DF	Samuel Giovane	(2003-03-28) 28 March 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Ascoli	v. Republic of Ireland, 21 November 2023
DF	Giorgio Cittadini	(2002-04-18) 18 April 2002 (age 22)	2	0	Genoa	v. Turkey, 12 September 2023
DF	Destiny Udogie	(2002-11-28) 28 November 2002 (age 21)	8	0	Tottenham Hotspur	v. Latvia, 8 September 2023 ^INJ
DF	Giorgio Scalvini	(2003-12-11) 11 December 2003 (age 20)	6	0	Atalanta	2023 UEFA Euro U21

MF	Edoardo Bove	(2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 21)	12	0	Roma	v. Latvia, 22 March 2024 ^INJ
MF	Simone Panada	(2002-06-02) 2 June 2002 (age 21)	0	0	Atalanta U23	v. Turkey, 12 September 2023

FW	Tommaso Baldanzi	(2003-03-23) 23 March 2003 (age 21)	3	1	Roma	v. Latvia, 22 March 2024 ^INJ
FW	Luca Koleosho	(2004-09-15) 15 September 2004 (age 19)	1	0	Burnley	v. Republic of Ireland, 21 November 2023
FW	Sebastiano Esposito	(2002-07-02) 2 July 2002 (age 21)	7	0	Sampdoria	v. Norway, 17 October 2023
FW	Marco Nasti	(2003-09-17) 17 September 2003 (age 20)	2	1	Bari	v. Norway, 17 October 2023 ^PRE
FW	Matteo Cancellieri	(2002-02-12) 12 February 2002 (age 22)	12	4	Empoli	2023 UEFA Euro U21
^INJ Withdrew due to injury

Records[edit]

Players in bold are still eligible to represent the Under-21 team. Caps and goals with the Olympic team are included.

Most appearances[edit]

The following is the top 10 most capped under-21 players:^[5]

Rank	Player	Period	Caps	Goals
1	Andrea Pirlo	1998–2002	46	16
2	Marco Motta	2005–2009	42	1
3	Francesco Bardi	2011–2015	37	0
4	Matteo Brighi	2000–2004	35	2
5	Daniele Bonera	2001–2004	34	0
6	Matteo Ferrari	1999–2002	33	3
7	Luca Marrone	2009–2013	32	1
7	Alessandro Rosina	2004–2007	32	4
9	Luca Caldirola	2010–2013	31	1
9	Marco Donadel	2004–2006	31	1

Top goalscorers[edit]

The following is the top 10 under-21 goalscorers:^[6]

Rank	Player	Period	Goals	Caps	Ratio
1	Alberto Gilardino	2000–2004	19	30	0.63
2	Andrea Pirlo	1998–2002	16	46	0.34
3	Manolo Gabbiadini	2010–2013	12	24	0.5
4	Massimo Maccarone	2000–2002	11	15	0.73
	Gianluca Vialli	1983–1986	11	20	0.55
	Patrick Cutrone	2017–2021	11	25	0.44
7	Cristiano Lucarelli	1996–1997	10	10	1
	Robert Acquafresca	2007–2009	10	16	0.62
	Christian Vieri	1992–1996	10	19	0.52
10	Gianluca Scamacca	2018–2021	9	15	0.6
	Ciro Immobile	2009–2013	9	16	0.56
	Andrea Belotti	2013–2015	9	18	0.5
	Roberto Mancini	1982–1986	9	26	0.34
	Alberto Paloschi	2008–2013	9	29	0.31

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

^ "Categories - All 4". www.channel4.com.
^ "Staff" (in Italian). FIGC. 18 March 2021.
^ "FIGC". www.figc.it. 7 February 2020.
^ "Lettonia e Turchia sulla strada verso l'Europeo: i convocati di Nunziata per le sfide di Cesena e Ferrara, prima chiamata per Hasa". 15 March 2024.
^ "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[edit]

Official website, Italian language
Official website, English language
The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Contains full record of U-21/U-23 Championships.

[1] "Categories - All 4". www.channel4.com.

[2] "Staff" (in Italian). FIGC. 18 March 2021.

[3] "FIGC". www.figc.it. 7 February 2020.

[4] "Lettonia e Turchia sulla strada verso l'Europeo: i convocati di Nunziata per le sfide di Cesena e Ferrara, prima chiamata per Hasa". 15 March 2024.

[5] "Classifica Presenze". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (in Italian). 24 September 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2021.

[6] "Classifica Marcatori". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (in Italian). 5 August 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2021.

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[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

v t e Italy national football team
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v t e Football in Italy
Italian Football Federation
National teams	Italy B team C team Olympic team Under-23 Under-21 Under-21 B team Under-20 Under-19 Under-18 Under-17 Under-16 Under-15 Italy women
Leagues	Lega Serie A Lega Serie B Lega Pro Lega Nazionale Dilettanti Lega Calcio defunct Lega Alta Italia defunct Direttorio Divisioni Superiori defunct Direttorio Divisioni Inferiori Nord defunct Lega Nord defunct
League competitions (Categoria Leagues)	Serie A Prima Divisione defunct Divisione Nazionale defunct Serie B Seconda Divisione defunct Serie C Serie C1 defunct Serie C2 defunct Serie D Eccellenza Promozione Prima Categoria Seconda Categoria Terza Categoria
Cup competitions	Coppa Italia Supercoppa Italiana Coppa Italia Serie C Supercoppa di Serie C Supercoppa di Lega di Serie C2 defunct Coppa Italia Serie D Coppa Italia Dilettanti
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Awards	Gran Galà del Calcio AIC Serie A Awards Italian Football Hall of Fame
Lists	List of clubs List of clubs by honours won Clubs in international competitions
Miscellaneous	Totonero 1980 Totonero 1986 Italian Law 91/1981, Article 18B financial doping scandals Anglo-Italian Cup Caso Genoa Calciopoli 2011–12 Italian football match-fixing scandal 2015 Italian football match-fixing scandal Article 52 of N.O.I.F. Scudetto Capocannoniere Italian Football Confederation
Venues Records Competitions Trophies and awards Rivalries

v t e National sports teams of Italy
Unified	A1GP Acceleration Alpine skiing Athletics Badminton Bobsleigh Cycling Diving Equestrian Fencing Korfball Rowing Sailing Shooting Short track skating Swimming Tennis
Men	American football Ball hockey Bandy Baseball U18 Basketball U-20 U-19 U-17 3x3 Beach soccer Canoe polo Cricket Field hockey Football Under-23 U-21 U-20 U-19 U-18 U-17 U-16 U-15 Futsal Goalball Gymnastics Handball Ice hockey U-20 U-18 Inline hockey Lacrosse Pitch and putt Racquetball Roller hockey Rugby league Rugby union U-20 U-18 7s Speedway Squash Tennis Volleyball U-23 U-21 U-19 Water polo Wheelchair handball
Women	Ball hockey Basketball U-20 U-19 U-17 3x3 Beach handball Canoe polo Cricket Field hockey Floorball Football U-17 Goalball Gymnastics Handball Ice hockey U-18 Inline hockey Roller hockey Rugby league Rugby union 7s Softball U-19 Tennis Volleyball U-23 U-20 U-18 Water polo
Olympics Paralympics Mediterranean Games Universiade World Games Military World Games

UEFA European Under-21 Championship[edit]

UEFA U-21 Championship Record[edit]

Olympics football Record[edit]

Overage players in Olympic Games[edit]

Mediterranean Games Record[edit]

Honours[edit]

Coaches[edit]

Coaching staff[edit]

Recent results and forthcoming fixtures[edit]

2023[edit]

2024[edit]

Players[edit]

Current squad[edit]

Recent call-ups[edit]

Records[edit]

Most appearances[edit]

Top goalscorers[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]