Italy national under-21 football team
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Nickname(s) | Gli Azzurrini (The Little Blues) | |||||||||||
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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) | |||||||||||
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First international | ||||||||||||
U-23: ![]() ![]() (Varese, Italy; 1 November 1970) U-21: ![]() ![]() (Funchal, Italy; 23 December 1976) | ||||||||||||
Biggest win | ||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Catanzaro, Italy; 23 March 1995) ![]() ![]() (Pavia, Italy; 5 September 2003) ![]() ![]() (Casarano, Italy; 6 September 2012) ![]() ![]() (Serravale, San Marino; 16 November 2023) ![]() ![]() (Latina, Italy; 5 September 2024) | ||||||||||||
Biggest defeat | ||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Stavanger, Norway; 5 June 1991) Records for competitive matches only. | ||||||||||||
Olympic Games | ||||||||||||
Appearances | 5 (first in 1992) | |||||||||||
Best result | ![]() | |||||||||||
UEFA U-21 Championship | ||||||||||||
Appearances | 22 (first in 1978) | |||||||||||
Best result | Champions (1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004) | |||||||||||
Medal record
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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]
Honours
[edit]- Winner: 1997
- Third place: 2004
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.
Year | Round |
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Quarter-finals |
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Quarter-finals |
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Quarter-finals |
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Semi-finals |
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Runners-up |
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Quarter-finals |
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Semi-finals |
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Champions |
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Champions |
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Champions |
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Did not qualify |
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Champions |
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Semi-finals |
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Champions |
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Group stage |
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Group stage |
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Semi-finals |
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Did not qualify |
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Runners-up |
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Group stage |
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Semi-finals |
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Group stage |
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Quarter-finals |
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Group stage |
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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 |
---|---|---|---|
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
[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
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 | ![]() |
Assistant coaches | ![]() ![]() |
Goalkeeping coach | ![]() |
Athletic trainer | ![]() |
Match analyst | ![]() |
Doctors | ![]() ![]() |
Physiotherapists | ![]() ![]() |
Osteopath | ![]() |
Head of Delegation | ![]() |
Secretary | ![]() |
Results and fixtures
[edit]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]
2023
[edit]8 September 2023 2025 Championship qual. | Latvia ![]() | 0–0 | ![]() | Jūrmala, Latvia |
Report | Stadium: Sloka Stadium |
12 September 2023 2025 Championship qual. | Turkey ![]() | 0–2 | ![]() | Adapazari, Turkey |
Report | Stadium: New Sakarya Atatürk Stadium |
17 October 2023 2025 Championship qual. | Italy ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() | Bolzano, Italy |
Report | Stadium: Stadio Druso |
16 November 2023 2025 Championship qual. | San Marino ![]() | 0–7 | ![]() | Serravalle, San Marino |
Report | Stadium: San Marino Stadium |
21 November 2023 2025 Championship qual. | Republic of Ireland ![]() | 2–2 | ![]() | Cork, Republic of Ireland |
Report | Stadium: Turners Cross |
2024
[edit]22 March 2024 2025 Championship qual. | Italy ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() | Cesena, Italy |
Report | Stadium: Stadio Dino Manuzzi |
26 March 2024 2025 Championship qual. | Italy ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Ferrara, Italy |
18:15 |
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Report |
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Stadium: Stadio Paolo Mazza Referee: Cesar Soto Grado (Spain) |
4 June 2024 Maurice Revello Tournament | Italy ![]() | 4–3 | ![]() | Vitrolles, France |
15:00 | Report |
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Stadium: Stade Jules-Ladoumègue Referee: Susan Corella (Ecuador) |
6 June 2024 Maurice Revello Tournament | Ukraine U23 ![]() | 4–0 | ![]() | Aubagne, France |
15:00 | Khlan ![]() Martynyuk ![]() Sikan ![]() Voloshyn ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Stade de Lattre-de-Tassigny Referee: Antsino Twanyanyukwa (Namibia) |
10 June 2024 Maurice Revello Tournament | Italy ![]() | 2–2 (4–1 p) | ![]() | Aubagne, France |
18:15 | Ndour ![]() |
Report | Phillips ![]() Alvarado ![]() |
Stadium: Stade de Lattre-de-Tassigny Referee: Lê Thị Ly (Vietnam) |
Penalties | ||||
Volpato ![]() Cerri ![]() Hasa ![]() Tongya ![]() |
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12 June 2024 Maurice Revello Tournament | Italy ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Salon-de-Provence, France |
18:15 | Raimondo ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Stade d'Honneur Marcel Roustan Referee: Odette Hamilton (Jamaica) |
16 June 2024 Maurice Revello Tournament | Italy ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Salon-de-Provence, France |
14:30 |
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Report | Stadium: Stade d'Honneur Marcel Roustan Referee: Lê Thị Ly (Vietnam) |
5 September 2024 2025 Championship qual. | Italy ![]() | 7–0 | ![]() | Latina, Italy |
16:45 | Report | Stadium: Stadio Domenico Francioni Referee: Marek Radina (Czech Republic) |
10 September 2024 2025 Championship qual. | Norway ![]() | 0–3 | ![]() | Stavanger, Norway |
18:30 | Report |
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Stadium: Viking Stadion |
15 October 2024 2025 Championship qual. | Italy ![]() | v | ![]() | Trieste, Italy |
Stadium: Stadio Nereo Rocco |
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 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against San Marino and Norway, played on 5 and 10 September 2024, respectively.[4]
Caps and goals as of 10 September 2024, after the match against Norway.
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.
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 |
Alessandro Rosina | 2004–2007 | 32 | 4 | |
9 | Luca Caldirola | 2010–2013 | 31 | 1 |
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 |
See also
[edit]- Italy national football team
- Italy national under-20 football team
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- Football at the Summer Olympics
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Categories - All 4". www.channel4.com.
- ^ "Staff" (in Italian). FIGC. 18 March 2021.
- ^ "FIGC". www.figc.it. 7 February 2020.
- ^ "Il cammino nelle qualificazioni all'Europeo riparte dalle sfide contro San Marino e Norvegia: Savona il volto nuovo tra i convocati di Nunziata" (in Italian). Italian Football Federation. 30 August 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]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Official website, Italian language
- Official website, English language
- The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Contains full record of U-21/U-23 Championships.