 | ||||||||||||
| 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) | ||||||||||||
| 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 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]
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.
| 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 |
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.
| 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 Football tournament was U-23 event in 1993 and 1997.
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
|
Only official matches are listed.[3]
v Italy
| 8 September 2023 (2023-09-08) 2025 Championship qual. | Latvia | 0–0 | Italy | Jūrmala, Latvia |
| Report | Stadium: Sloka Stadium |
v Italy
| 12 September 2023 (2023-09-12) 2025 Championship qual. | Turkey | 0–2 | Italy | Adapazari, Turkey |
| Report |
 79' |
Stadium: New Sakarya Atatürk Stadium |
v Norway
| 17 October 2023 (2023-10-17) 2025 Championship qual. | Italy | 2–0 | Norway | Bolzano, Italy |
46' |
Report | Stadium: Stadio Druso |
v Italy
| 16 November 2023 (2023-11-16) 2025 Championship qual. | San Marino | 0–7 | Italy | Serravalle, San Marino |
| Report |
31', 39' 46' 54' 62' (pen.) 83' |
Stadium: San Marino Stadium |
v Italy
| 21 November 2023 (2023-11-21) 2025 Championship qual. | Republic of Ireland | 2–2 | Italy | Cork, Republic of Ireland |
47' |
Report | Stadium: Turners Cross |
v Latvia
| 22 March 2024 (2024-03-22) 2025 Championship qual. | Italy | 2–0 | Latvia | Cesena, Italy |
79' |
Report | Stadium: Stadio Dino Manuzzi |
v Turkey
| 26 March 2024 (2024-03-26) 2025 Championship qual. | Italy | 1–1 | Turkey | Ferrara, Italy |
| 18:15 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Stadio Paolo Mazza Referee: Cesar Soto Grado (Spain) |
v
Japan U20
| 4 June 2024 (2024-06-04) Touloune Tournament GS | Italy | 4–3 | Japan U20 | Vitrolles, France |
| 15:00 |
22' (pen.) 59', 70' |
Report |
|
Stadium: Stade Jules-Ladoumègue Referee: Susan Corella (Ecuador) |
v Italy
| 6 June 2024 (2024-06-06) Touloune Tournament GS | 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) |
v
Panama U23
| 10 June 2024 (2024-06-10) Touloune Tournament GS | 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 |
|||
v
Indonesia U20
| 12 June 2024 (2024-06-12) Touloune Tournament GS | Italy | 1–0 | Indonesia U20 | Salon-de-Provence, France |
| 18:15 | Raimondo 38' |
Report | Stadium: Stade d'Honneur Marcel Roustan Referee: Odette Hamilton (Jamaica) |
v France U20
| 16 June 2024 Touloune Tournament F | Italy | 1–0 | France U20 | Salon-de-Provence, France |
| 14:30 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stade d'Honneur Marcel Roustan Referee: Lê Thị Ly (Vietnam) |
v San Marino
| 5 September 2024 (2024-09-05) 2025 Championship qual. | Italy | v | San Marino | TBD, Italy |
v Italy
| 10 September 2024 (2024-09-10) 2025 Championship qual. | Norway | v | Italy | TBD, Norway |
v Republic of Ireland
| 15 October 2024 (2024-10-15) 2025 Championship qual. | Italy | v | Republic of Ireland | TBD, Italy |
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.
The following players were called up for the 2024 Toulon Tournament.[4]
Caps and goals as of 13 June 2024, after the match against France U20.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1GK | Filippo Rinaldi | (2002-12-04) 4 December 2002 (age 21) | 2 | 0 | Parma
| |
| 1GK | Gioele Zacchi | (2003-07-10) 10 July 2003 (age 21) | 2 | 0 | Latina
| |
| 1GK | Jacopo Sassi | (2003-07-24) 24 July 2003 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Modena
| |
| 2DF | Mattia Zanotti | (2003-02-11) 11 February 2003 (age 21) | 11 | 0 | Lugano
| |
| 2DF | Daniele Ghilardi | (2003-01-06) 6 January 2003 (age 21) | 7 | 1 | Hellas Verona
| |
| 2DF | Riccardo Turicchia | (2003-02-05) 5 February 2003 (age 21) | 6 | 0 | Juventus Next Gen
| |
| 2DF | Davide Veroli | (2003-01-29) 29 January 2003 (age 21) | 4 | 0 | Cagliari
| |
| 2DF | Nicolò Bertola | (2003-03-23) 23 March 2003 (age 21) | 3 | 0 | Spezia
| |
| 2DF | Giovanni Bonfanti | (2003-01-17) 17 January 2003 (age 21) | 3 | 0 | Atalanta
| |
| 2DF | Christian Dalle Mura | (2002-02-02) 2 February 2002 (age 22) | 3 | 0 | Cosenza
| |
| 2DF | Edoardo Pieragnolo | (2003-01-03) 3 January 2003 (age 21) | 3 | 0 | Sassuolo
| |
| 2DF | Alessandro Fontanarosa | (2003-02-07) 7 February 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Cosenza
| |
| 3MF | Giovanni Fabbian | (2003-01-14) 14 January 2003 (age 21) | 8 | 3 | Bologna
| |
| 3MF | Niccolò Pisilli | (2004-01-23) 23 January 2004 (age 20) | 5 | 0 | Roma
| |
| 3MF | Franco Tongya | (2002-03-13) 13 March 2002 (age 22) | 5 | 0 | Salernitana
| |
| 3MF | Alessandro Bianco | (2002-10-01) 1 October 2002 (age 21) | 4 | 1 | Fiorentina
| |
| 3MF | Luis Hasa | (2004-01-06) 6 January 2004 (age 20) | 3 | 0 | Juventus Next Gen
| |
| 3MF | Federico Zuccon | (2004-04-01) 1 April 2004 (age 20) | 3 | 0 | Atalanta U23
| |
| 3MF | Giacomo Faticanti | (2004-07-31) 31 July 2004 (age 19) | 2 | 0 | Lecce
| |
| 4FW | Sebastiano Esposito | (2002-07-02) 2 July 2002 (age 22) | 11 | 0 | Empoli
| |
| 4FW | Cristian Volpato | (2003-11-15) 15 November 2003 (age 20) | 6 | 1 | Sassuolo
| |
| 4FW | Antonio Raimondo | (2004-03-18) 18 March 2004 (age 20) | 5 | 3 | Bologna
| |
| 4FW | Leonardo Cerri | (2003-03-04) 4 March 2003 (age 21) | 4 | 1 | Juventus Next Gen
| |
| 4FW | Seydou Fini | (2006-06-02) 2 June 2006 (age 18) | 4 | 1 | Genoa
| |
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 | Sebastiano Desplanches | (2003-03-11) 11 March 2003 (age 21) | 7 | 0 | Palermo
|
v. Turkey, 26 March 2024
|
| DF | Lorenzo Pirola (captain) | (2002-02-20) 20 February 2002 (age 22) | 18 | 3 |  Olympiacos
|
v. Turkey, 26 March 2024
|
| DF | Riccardo Calafiori | (2002-05-19) 19 May 2002 (age 22) | 8 | 0 | Bologna
|
v. Turkey, 26 March 2024
|
| DF | Matteo Ruggeri | (2002-07-11) 11 July 2002 (age 22) | 8 | 0 | Atalanta
|
v. Turkey, 26 March 2024
|
| DF | Diego Coppola | (2003-12-28) 28 December 2003 (age 20) | 4 | 0 | Hellas Verona
|
v. Turkey, 26 March 2024
|
| DF | Michael Kayode | (2004-07-10) 10 July 2004 (age 20) | 3 | 0 | Fiorentina
|
v. Turkey, 26 March 2024
|
| DF | Gabriele Guarino | (2004-04-14) 14 April 2004 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Empoli
|
v. Republic of Ireland, 21 November 2023
|
| DF | Tommaso Barbieri | (2002-08-26) 26 August 2002 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Juventus Next Gen
|
v. Republic of Ireland, 21 November 2023
|
| DF | Samuel Giovane | (2003-03-28) 28 March 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Atalanta U23
|
v. Republic of Ireland, 21 November 2023
|
| DF | Giorgio Cittadini | (2002-04-18) 18 April 2002 (age 22) | 2 | 0 | Frosinone
|
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
|
| MF | Cher Ndour | (2004-07-27) 27 July 2004 (age 19) | 10 | 2 | Paris Saint-Germain
|
v. Panama, 10 June 2024
|
| MF | Cesare Casadei | (2003-01-10) 10 January 2003 (age 21) | 9 | 1 | Chelsea
|
v. Turkey, 26 March 2024
|
| MF | Fabio Miretti | (2003-08-03) 3 August 2003 (age 20) | 9 | 1 | Juventus
|
v. Turkey, 26 March 2024
|
| MF | Matteo Prati | (2003-12-28) 28 December 2003 (age 20) | 7 | 0 | Cagliari
|
v. Turkey, 26 March 2024
|
| MF | Jacopo Fazzini | (2003-03-16) 16 March 2003 (age 21) | 2 | 0 | Empoli
|
v. Turkey, 26 March 2024
|
| MF | Edoardo Bove | (2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 22) | 12 | 0 | Roma
|
v. Latvia, 22 March 2024 INJ
|
| MF | Simone Panada | (2002-06-02) 2 June 2002 (age 22) | 0 | 0 | Atalanta U23
|
v. Turkey, 12 September 2023
|
| FW | Rachid Kouda | (2002-07-25) 25 July 2002 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Spezia
|
v. Panama, 10 June 2024
|
| FW | Lorenzo Colombo | (2002-03-08) 8 March 2002 (age 22) | 20 | 4 | Milan
|
v. Turkey, 26 March 2024
|
| FW | Wilfried Gnonto | (2003-11-05) 5 November 2003 (age 20) | 7 | 5 | Leeds United
|
v. Turkey, 26 March 2024
|
| FW | Gaetano Oristanio | (2002-09-28) 28 September 2002 (age 21) | 7 | 0 | Venezia
|
v. Turkey, 26 March 2024
|
| FW | Francesco Pio Esposito | (2005-06-28) 28 June 2005 (age 19) | 6 | 2 | Spezia
|
v. Turkey, 26 March 2024
|
| FW | Giuseppe Ambrosino | (2003-09-10) 10 September 2003 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | Frosinone
|
v. Turkey, 26 March 2024
|
| 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 | Marco Nasti | (2003-09-17) 17 September 2003 (age 20) | 2 | 1 | Milan
|
v. Norway, 17 October 2023 PRE
|
INJ Withdrew due to injury | ||||||
Players in bold are still eligible to represent the Under-21 team. Caps and goals with the Olympic team are included.
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 |
| Alessandro Rosina | 2004–2007 | 32 | 4 | |
| 9 | Luca Caldirola | 2010–2013 | 31 | 1 |
| Marco Donadel | 2004–2006 | 31 | 1 |
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 |
|
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|---|---|
| General |
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| Venues |
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| Statistics |
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| Goals |
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| Results |
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| Players |
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| World Cups |
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| European Championships |
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| Other tournaments |
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| Rivalries |
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| Culture |
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| Contribution by club |
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| Other FIGC teams |
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|---|---|
| National teams |
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| Leagues |
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| League competitions (Categoria Leagues) |
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| Cup competitions |
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| Youth competitions |
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| Women's competitions |
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| Awards |
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| Lists |
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| Miscellaneous |
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