The Italy national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Italy and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation.
 | ||||||||||||
| 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 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) Italy 7–0 San Marino (Latina, Italy; 5 September 2024) | ||||||||||||
| 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
| ||||||||||||
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]
Honours
edit- Third place: 2004
- Winner: 1997
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
editSince 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.
| Year | Round |
|---|---|
 1978 |
Quarter-finals |
| 1980
| |
| 1982
| |
| 1984 |
Semi-finals |
| 1986 |
Runners-up |
| 1988 |
Quarter-finals |
| 1990 |
Semi-finals |
| 1992 |
Champions |
 1994
| |
 1996
| |
 1998 |
Did not qualify |
 2000 |
Champions |
 2002 |
Semi-finals |
 2004 |
Champions |
| 2006 |
Group stage |
 2007
| |
 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 |
Qualified |
| Total | 22/24 |
- *Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.
Olympics football Record
editSince 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gianluca Pagliuca (GK) | Massimo Crippa (MF) | Marco Branca (FW) | |
| Did not select | |||
| Matteo Ferrari (DF) | Andrea Pirlo (MF) | Did not select | |
| Tommaso Rocchi (FW) | Did not select | ||
Mediterranean Games Record
editMediterranean 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
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
editCurrent 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
|
Results and fixtures
editThe following is a list of matches played in the past 12 months and future matches that have been scheduled. Only official matches are listed.[3]
2024
edit| 22 March 2024 2025 Championship qual. | Italy | 2–0 |  Latvia | Cesena, Italy |
| Report | Stadium: Stadio Dino Manuzzi |
| 26 March 2024 2025 Championship qual. | Italy | 1–1 |  Turkey | Ferrara, Italy |
| 18:15 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Stadio Paolo Mazza Referee: Cesar Soto Grado (Spain) |
| 4 June 2024 Maurice Revello Tournament | Italy | 4–3 |  Japan U20 | Vitrolles, France |
| 15:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Stade Jules-Ladoumègue Referee: Susan Corella (Ecuador) |
| 6 June 2024 Maurice Revello Tournament | Ukraine U23  | 4–0 | Italy | Aubagne, France |
| 15:00 | Khlan  31'Martynyuk 53'Sikan 63'Voloshyn 71' |
Report | Stadium: Stade de Lattre-de-Tassigny Referee: Antsino Twanyanyukwa (Namibia) |
| 10 June 2024 Maurice Revello Tournament | Italy | 2–2 (4–1 p) |  Panama U23 | Aubagne, France |
| 18:15 | Ndour 40', 90+6' |
Report | Phillips 23' Alvarado 26' |
Stadium: Stade de Lattre-de-Tassigny Referee: Lê Thị Ly (Vietnam) |
| Penalties | ||||
Volpato  Cerri Hasa Tongya |
 Tello Orelien Matos |
|||
| 12 June 2024 Maurice Revello Tournament | Italy | 1–0 |  Indonesia U20 | Salon-de-Provence, France |
| 18:15 | Raimondo 38' |
Report | Stadium: Stade d'Honneur Marcel Roustan Referee: Odette Hamilton (Jamaica) |
| 16 June 2024 Maurice Revello Tournament | Italy | 1–0 | France U20 | Salon-de-Provence, France |
| 14:30 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stade d'Honneur Marcel Roustan Referee: Lê Thị Ly (Vietnam) |
| 5 September 2024 2025 Championship qual. | Italy | 7–0 | San Marino | Latina, Italy |
| 16:45 | Report | Stadium: Stadio Domenico Francioni Referee: Marek Radina (Czech Republic) |
| 10 September 2024 2025 Championship qual. | Norway | 0–3 | Italy | Stavanger, Norway |
| 18:30 | Report |
|
Stadium: Viking Stadion |
| 15 October 2024 2025 Championship qual. | Italy | 1–1 |  Republic of Ireland | Trieste, Italy |
| 18:30 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Stadio Nereo Rocco Referee: Adam Ladebäck (Sweden) |
Players
editPlayers 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
editThe following players were called up for the friendlies against France and Ukraine on 15 and 19 November 2024.[4]
Caps and goals as of 19 November 2024, after the match against Ukraine.
Recent call-ups
editFollowing are listed players called up in the previous twelve months who are still eligible to represent the under-21 team.
Records
editPlayers in bold are still eligible to represent the Under-21 team. Caps and goals with the Olympic team are included.
Most appearances
editThe 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 |
| Alessandro Rosina | 2004–2007 | 32 | 4 | |
| 9 | Luca Caldirola | 2010–2013 | 31 | 1 |
| Marco Donadel | 2004–2006 | 31 | 1 |
Top goalscorers
editThe 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 |
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ "Categories - All 4". www.channel4.com.
- ^ "Staff" (in Italian). FIGC. 18 March 2021.
- ^ "FIGC". www.figc.it. 7 February 2020.
- ^ "Azzurrini al lavoro verso il doppio test contro Francia e Ucraina. Nunziata: "Due partite per capire il nostro livello". Convocato Pafundi" (in Italian). Italian Football Federation. 11 November 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.