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.

Italy Under-21

Nickname(s)	Gli Azzurrini (The Little Blues)
Association	Italian Football Federation (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio – FIGC)
Head coach	Silvio Baldini
Captain	Vacant
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) 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	23 (first in 1978)
Best result	Champions (1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004)
Medal record Italy national under-21 football team Medal record Men's Football 2004 Athens Team

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

• 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
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	Quarter-finals
2027	TBD
Total	23/25

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

Olympics football Record

Main article: Italy national under-23 football team

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
2004	Matteo Ferrari (DF)	Andrea Pirlo (MF)	Did not select
2008	Tommaso Rocchi (FW)	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
• 2023–2025: Carmine Nunziata
• 2025–present: Silvio Baldini

Coaching staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Silvio Baldini
Assistant coach	Andrea Barzagli
Goalkeeping coach	Fabrizio Ferron
Fitness coach	Vito Azzone
Match analyst	Gianluca Mazziotti
Head of delegation	Giancarlo Antognoni
Doctors	Daniele Mazza Vincenzo Santoriello
Physiotherapists	Emiliano Bozzetti Nicola Sanna
Osteopath	Cristiano Pompili
Nutritionist	Maria Luisa Cravana

Source:^[2]

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.^[3]

2024

Italy  v  San Marino

5 September 2024 (2024-09-05) 2025 Championship qual.	Italy	7–0	San Marino	Latina, Italy
16:45	Bove 35' Matteoni 38' (o.g.) Esposito 58', 76', 78', 90+1' Raimondo 81'	Report		Stadium: Stadio Domenico Francioni Referee: Marek Radina (Czech Republic)

Norway  v  Italy

10 September 2024 (2024-09-10) 2025 Championship qual.	Norway	0–3	Italy	Stavanger, Norway
18:30		Report	Baldanzi 10', 72', 80'	Stadium: Viking Stadion

Italy  v  Republic of Ireland

15 October 2024 (2024-10-15) 2025 Championship qual.	Italy	1–1	Republic of Ireland	Trieste, Italy
18:30	Casadei 23'	Report	Moran 66'	Stadium: Stadio Nereo Rocco Referee: Adam Ladebäck (Sweden)

Italy  v  France

15 November 2024 (2024-11-15) Friendly	Italy	2–2	France	Empoli, Italy
16:15	Casadei 16' Ambrosino 44'	Report	Cherki 58' Atangana 65'	Stadium: Stadio Carlo Castellani

Italy  v  Ukraine

19 November 2024 (2024-11-19) Friendly	Italy	2–2	Ukraine	La Spezia, Italy
18:15	Fabbian 26' Esposito 45'	Report	Kvasnytsya 28' Krasnopir 83'	Stadium: Stadio Alberto Picco

2025

Italy  v  Netherlands

21 March 2025 (2025-03-21) Friendly	Italy	1–2	Netherlands	Venice, Italy
18:15	S. Esposito 54', pen.'	Report	Fitz-Jim 19' Bruns 90+4'	Stadium: Stadio Pierluigi Penzo

Italy  v  Denmark

24 March 2025 (2025-03-24) Friendly	Italy	1–1	Denmark	Cittadella, Italy
18:15 UTC+1	Prati 37'	Report	Sørensen 21'	Stadium: Stadio Pier Cesare Tombolato Attendance: 7,000

Italy  v  Romania

11 June 2025 (2025-06-11) 2025 UEFA U21C RR	Italy	1–0	Romania	Trnava, Slovakia
21:00	Baldanzi 26'	Report		Stadium: Anton Malatinský Stadium Referee: Vassilis Fotias (Greece)

Slovakia  v  Italy

14 June 2025 (2025-06-14) 2025 UEFA U21C RR	Slovakia	0–1	Italy	Trnava, Slovakia
21:00		Report	Casadei 7'	Stadium: Anton Malatinský Stadium Attendance: 15,455 Referee: Nenad Minaković (Serbia)

Spain  v  Italy

17 June 2025 (2025-06-17) 2025 UEFA U21C RR	Spain	1–1	Italy	Trnava, Slovakia
21:00	Rodríguez 53'	Report	Pisilli 59'	Stadium: Anton Malatinský Stadium Referee: Nick Walsh (Scotland)

Germany  v  Italy

22 June 2025 (2025-06-22) 2025 UEFA U21C QF	Germany	3–2	Italy	Dunajská Streda, Slovakia
21:00	Woltemade 68' Weiper 87' Röhl 117'	Report	Koleosho 58' Ambrosino 90+6'	Stadium: MOL Arena Attendance: 6,503[4] Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas (Lithuania)

Italy  v  Montenegro

5 September 2025 (2025-09-05) 2027 Championship qual.	Italy	v	Montenegro	La Spezia, Italy
				Stadium: Stadio Alberto Picco

North Macedonia  v  Italy

9 September 2025 (2025-09-09) 2027 Championship qual.	North Macedonia	v	Italy	Bitola, North Macedonia
				Stadium: Stadium Petar Miloševski

Italy  v  Sweden

10 October 2025 (2025-10-10) 2027 Championship qual.	Italy	v	Sweden	Cesena, Italy
				Stadium: Stadio Dino Manuzzi

Italy  v  Armenia

14 October 2025 (2025-10-14) 2027 Championship qual.	Italy	v	Armenia	Cremona, Italy
				Stadium: Stadio Giovanni Zini

Poland  v  Italy

14 November 2025 (2025-11-14) 2027 Championship qual.

Poland

v

Italy

TBD, Poland

Montenegro  v  Italy

14 November 2025 (2025-11-14) 2027 Championship qual.

Montenegro

v

Italy

TBD, Montenegro

2026

Italy  v  North Macedonia

26 March 2026 (2026-03-26) 2027 Championship qual.

Italy

v

North Macedonia

TBD, Italy

Sweden  v  Italy

31 March 2026 (2026-03-31) 2027 Championship qual.

Sweden

v

Italy

TBD, Sweden

Armenia  v  Italy

1 October 2026 (2026-10-01) 2027 Championship qual.

Armenia

v

Italy

TBD, Armenia

Italy  v  Poland

5 October 2026 (2026-10-05) 2027 Championship qual.

Italy

v

Poland

TBD, Italy

Players

Players born in 2004 or later are eligible for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Players in bold have been already capped with the senior team.

Current squad

The following 23 players were selected for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.^[5]

Caps and goals as of 22 June 2025, after the match against Germany.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Sebastiano Desplanches	(2003-03-11) 11 March 2003 (age 22)	16	0	Palermo
12	1GK	Gioele Zacchi	(2003-07-10) 10 July 2003 (age 22)	7	0	Sassuolo
22	1GK	Jacopo Sassi	(2003-07-24) 24 July 2003 (age 22)	3	0	Atalanta U23
2	2DF	Mattia Zanotti	(2003-02-11) 11 February 2003 (age 22)	18	0	Lugano
3	2DF	Matteo Ruggeri	(2002-07-11) 11 July 2002 (age 23)	16	0	Atlético Madrid
5	2DF	Lorenzo Pirola (captain)	(2002-02-20) 20 February 2002 (age 23)	26	3	Olympiacos
6	2DF	Daniele Ghilardi	(2003-01-06) 6 January 2003 (age 22)	16	1	Roma
13	2DF	Michael Kayode	(2004-07-10) 10 July 2004 (age 21)	8	0	Brentford
15	2DF	Diego Coppola	(2003-12-28) 28 December 2003 (age 21)	11	0	Brighton & Hove Albion
16	2DF	Riccardo Turicchia	(2003-02-05) 5 February 2003 (age 22)	11	0	Juventus Next Gen
19	2DF	Gabriele Guarino	(2004-04-14) 14 April 2004 (age 21)	2	0	Empoli
4	3MF	Matteo Prati	(2003-12-28) 28 December 2003 (age 21)	15	1	Cagliari
7	3MF	Cher Ndour	(2004-07-27) 27 July 2004 (age 21)	20	2	Fiorentina
8	3MF	Cesare Casadei	(2003-01-10) 10 January 2003 (age 22)	16	4	Torino
14	3MF	Giovanni Fabbian	(2003-01-14) 14 January 2003 (age 22)	17	4	Bologna
18	3MF	Issa Doumbia	(2003-10-16) 16 October 2003 (age 21)	3	0	Venezia
20	3MF	Niccolò Pisilli	(2004-09-23) 23 September 2004 (age 20)	13	1	Roma
21	3MF	Jacopo Fazzini	(2003-03-16) 16 March 2003 (age 22)	5	0	Fiorentina
23	3MF	Alessandro Bianco	(2002-10-01) 1 October 2002 (age 22)	7	1	Fiorentina
9	4FW	Giuseppe Ambrosino	(2003-09-10) 10 September 2003 (age 21)	11	2	Napoli
10	4FW	Wilfried Gnonto	(2003-11-05) 5 November 2003 (age 21)	17	5	Leeds United
11	3MF	Tommaso Baldanzi	(2003-03-23) 23 March 2003 (age 22)	10	5	Roma
17	4FW	Luca Koleosho	(2004-09-15) 15 September 2004 (age 20)	7	1	Espanyol

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
DF	Marco Palestra	(2005-03-03) 3 March 2005 (age 20)	3	0	Atalanta	2025 U21 Championship PRE
DF	Giovanni Leoni	(2006-12-21) 21 December 2006 (age 18)	0	0	Liverpool	2025 U21 Championship PRE
DF	Pietro Comuzzo	(2005-02-20) 20 February 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Fiorentina	v.  Republic of Ireland, 15 October 2024
MF	Simone Pafundi	(2006-03-14) 14 March 2006 (age 19)	2	0	Udinese	2025 U21 Championship PRE
FW	Pio Esposito	(2005-06-28) 28 June 2005 (age 20)	11	7	Inter	2025 U21 Championship PRE
FW	Antonio Raimondo	(2004-03-18) 18 March 2004 (age 21)	7	4	Frosinone	v.  Republic of Ireland, 15 October 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:^[6]

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

The following is the top 10 under-21 goalscorers:^[7]

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

• Italy national football team
• Italy national under-20 football team
• UEFA European Under-21 Championship
• Football at the Summer Olympics

Notes