# Italy national under-21 football team

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.

## Honours

* UEFA European Under-21 Championship
   * Winner: 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004
   * Runner-up: 1986, 2013
* Summer Olympics
   * Third place: 2004
* Mediterranean Games
   * Winner: 1997
* Maurice Revello Tournament
   * Winner: 2008
   * Third place: 2011, 2024

## 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 | 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 | Qualified |
| 2027 | TBD |
| Total | 22/24 |
    *Red border colour 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
* 2024: Did not qualify

### Overage players in Olympic Games

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

## 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

## Coaches

* 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

Current technical staff:
| 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

The following is a list of matches played in the past 12 months and future matches that have been scheduled. Only official matches are listed.

### 2026
## Players

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

The following players were called up for the friendlies against Netherlands and Denmark on 21 and 24 March 2025.
Caps and goals as of 19 November 2024, after the match against Ukraine.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1GK | Sebastiano Desplanches | (2003-03-11) 11 March 2003 (age 22) | 11 | 0 | Palermo |
| 1GK | Gioele Zacchi | (2003-07-10) 10 July 2003 (age 21) | 5 | 0 | Latina |
| 1GK | Jacopo Sassi | (2003-07-24) 24 July 2003 (age 21) | 2 | 0 | Modena |
| 2DF | Lorenzo Pirola (captain) | (2002-02-20) 20 February 2002 (age 23) | 20 | 3 | Olympiacos |
| 2DF | Mattia Zanotti | (2003-02-11) 11 February 2003 (age 22) | 13 | 0 | Lugano |
| 2DF | Daniele Ghilardi | (2003-01-06) 6 January 2003 (age 22) | 11 | 1 | Hellas Verona |
| 2DF | Riccardo Turicchia | (2003-02-05) 5 February 2003 (age 22) | 8 | 0 | Juventus Next Gen |
| 2DF | Diego Coppola | (2003-12-28) 28 December 2003 (age 21) | 7 | 0 | Hellas Verona |
| 2DF | Nicolò Bertola | (2003-03-23) 23 March 2003 (age 21) | 6 | 0 | Spezia |
| 2DF | Marco Palestra | (2005-03-03) 3 March 2005 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Atalanta |
| 2DF | Samuele Angori | (2003-10-07) 7 October 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Pisa |
| 3MF | Cher Ndour | (2004-07-27) 27 July 2004 (age 20) | 15 | 2 | Fiorentina |
| 3MF | Giovanni Fabbian | (2003-01-14) 14 January 2003 (age 22) | 12 | 4 | Bologna |
| 3MF | Fabio Miretti | (2003-08-03) 3 August 2003 (age 21) | 11 | 1 | Genoa |
| 3MF | Matteo Prati | (2003-12-28) 28 December 2003 (age 21) | 10 | 0 | Cagliari |
| 3MF | Cristian Volpato | (2003-11-15) 15 November 2003 (age 21) | 8 | 1 | Sassuolo |
| 3MF | Niccolò Pisilli | (2004-09-23) 23 September 2004 (age 20) | 7 | 0 | Roma |
| 3MF | Tommaso Baldanzi | (2003-03-23) 23 March 2003 (age 21) | 6 | 4 | Roma |
| 3MF | Alessandro Bianco | (2002-10-01) 1 October 2002 (age 22) | 5 | 1 | Monza |
| 3MF | Simone Pafundi | (2006-03-14) 14 March 2006 (age 19) | 1 | 0 | Udinese |
| 3MF | Issa Doumbia | (2003-10-16) 16 October 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Venezia |
| 4FW | Wilfried Gnonto | (2003-11-05) 5 November 2003 (age 21) | 12 | 5 | Leeds United |
| 4FW | Sebastiano Esposito | (2002-07-02) 2 July 2002 (age 22) | 11 | 0 | Empoli |
| 4FW | Giuseppe Ambrosino | (2003-09-10) 10 September 2003 (age 21) | 5 | 1 | Frosinone |
| 4FW | Luca Koleosho | (2004-09-15) 15 September 2004 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | Burnley |

### Recent call-ups

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 | Filippo Rinaldi | (2002-12-04) 4 December 2002 (age 22) | 2 | 0 | Feralpisalò | 2024 Toulon Tournament |
| DF | Matteo Ruggeri | (2002-07-11) 11 July 2002 (age 22) | 12 | 0 | Atalanta | v. Ukraine, 19 November 2024 |
| DF | Giovanni Bonfanti | (2003-01-17) 17 January 2003 (age 22) | 4 | 0 | Pisa | v. Ukraine, 19 November 2024 |
| DF | Michael Kayode | (2004-07-10) 10 July 2004 (age 20) | 4 | 0 | Brentford | v. Ukraine, 19 November 2024 |
| DF | Gabriele Guarino | (2004-04-14) 14 April 2004 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Carrarese | v. Ukraine, 19 November 2024 |
| DF | Nicolò Savona | (2003-03-19) 19 March 2003 (age 21) | 3 | 0 | Juventus | v. Republic of Ireland, 15 October 2024 |
| DF | Pietro Comuzzo | (2005-02-20) 20 February 2005 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Fiorentina | v. Republic of Ireland, 15 October 2024 |
| DF | Mattia Viti | (2002-01-24) 24 January 2002 (age 23) | 6 | 0 | Empoli | v. Republic of Ireland, 15 October 2023 $^{PRE}$ |
| DF | Davide Veroli | (2003-01-29) 29 January 2003 (age 22) | 4 | 0 | Sampdoria | v. Norway, 10 September 2024 |
| DF | Christian Dalle Mura | (2002-02-02) 2 February 2002 (age 23) | 3 | 0 | Cosenza | 2024 Toulon Tournament |
| DF | Edoardo Pieragnolo | (2003-01-03) 3 January 2003 (age 22) | 3 | 0 | Sassuolo | 2024 Toulon Tournament |
| DF | Alessandro Fontanarosa | (2003-02-07) 7 February 2003 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | Reggiana | 2024 Toulon Tournament |
| DF | Riccardo Calafiori | (2002-05-19) 19 May 2002 (age 22) | 8 | 0 | Arsenal | v. Turkey, 26 March 2024 |
| MF | Cesare Casadei | (2003-01-10) 10 January 2003 (age 22) | 12 | 3 | Torino | v. Ukraine, 19 November 2024 |
| MF | Edoardo Bove | (2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 22) | 14 | 1 | Fiorentina | v. France, 15 November 2024 $^{PRE}$ |
| MF | Jacopo Fazzini | (2003-03-16) 16 March 2003 (age 22) | 3 | 0 | Empoli | v. Republic of Ireland, 15 October 2024 |
| MF | Franco Tongya | (2002-03-13) 13 March 2002 (age 23) | 5 | 0 | Salernitana | v. Norway, 10 September 2024 |
| MF | Luis Hasa | (2004-01-06) 6 January 2004 (age 21) | 3 | 0 | Napoli | 2024 Toulon Tournament |
| MF | Federico Zuccon | (2003-04-01) 1 April 2003 (age 21) | 3 | 0 | Salernitana | 2024 Toulon Tournament |
| MF | Giacomo Faticanti | (2004-07-31) 31 July 2004 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | Juventus Next Gen | 2024 Toulon Tournament |
| FW | Francesco Pio Esposito | (2005-06-28) 28 June 2005 (age 19) | 11 | 7 | Spezia | v. Netherlands, 21 March 2025 $^{INJ}$ |
| FW | Antonio Raimondo | (2004-03-18) 18 March 2004 (age 21) | 7 | 4 | Salernitana | v. Republic of Ireland, 15 October 2024 |
| FW | Leonardo Cerri | (2003-03-04) 4 March 2003 (age 22) | 4 | 1 | Carrarese | 2024 Toulon Tournament |
| FW | Seydou Fini | (2006-06-02) 2 June 2006 (age 18) | 4 | 1 | Excelsior | 2024 Toulon Tournament |
| FW | Rachid Kouda | (2002-07-25) 25 July 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | Spezia | 2024 Toulon Tournament |
| FW | Lorenzo Colombo | (2002-03-08) 8 March 2002 (age 23) | 20 | 4 | Empoli | v. Turkey, 26 March 2024 |
| FW | Gaetano Oristanio | (2002-09-28) 28 September 2002 (age 22) | 7 | 0 | Venezia | v. Turkey, 26 March 2024 |
| $^{INJ}$ Withdrew due to injury $^{PRE}$ Preliminary squad |||||||

## Records

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

### Most appearances

The following is the top 10 most capped under-21 players:
| 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

The following is the top 10 under-21 goalscorers:
| 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 |
| 4 | Gianluca Vialli | 1983–1986 | 11 | 20 | 0.55 |
| 4 | Patrick Cutrone | 2017–2021 | 11 | 25 | 0.44 |
| 7 | Cristiano Lucarelli | 1996–1997 | 10 | 10 | 1 |
| 7 | Robert Acquafresca | 2007–2009 | 10 | 16 | 0.62 |
| 7 | Christian Vieri | 1992–1996 | 10 | 19 | 0.52 |
| 10 | Gianluca Scamacca | 2018–2021 | 9 | 15 | 0.6 |
| 10 | Ciro Immobile | 2009–2013 | 9 | 16 | 0.56 |
| 10 | Andrea Belotti | 2013–2015 | 9 | 18 | 0.5 |
| 10 | Roberto Mancini | 1982–1986 | 9 | 26 | 0.34 |
| 10 | Alberto Paloschi | 2008–2013 | 9 | 29 | 0.31 |