Italy, European Youth Championships: Under 18, U19 and U17 win

May it be a good omen, this blue afternoon of only victories. Three out of three for the national youth teams that took to the field in Italy and abroad, all involved in their respective qualification paths for the European Championships in their category. Of particular note are the successes of the Under 19s and Under 17s who are playing for access to the final stages of this summer, while the adventure of the Under 18s is also starting well in the first phase of the journey towards the Euro U19 in 2027.

U19, THREE IN CATANZARO

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This year you can’t go wrong. After the disappointment of 12 months ago – thanks to the impossible group with Spain and France – Italy U19 returns to Calabria, this time as big favorites to qualify for the European Championship (in Wales between June and July). And Alberto Bollini’s team started off on the right foot, deservedly overcoming Hungary who proved – at least for half the match – even more difficult than one might have expected. It still ends 3-0, with a brace from Jamal Iddrissou (Inter) and a trio from Christian Comotto (Spezia, Milan loan). Iddrissou himself, a striker from Brescia who is inspired by Marcus Thuram, does not make the absence of Inacio (suspended) felt up front in a trident made up of the other Inter player Mosconi and the Atalanta player Idele. In the 4-3-3, two of the most anticipated talents also find space: Luca Reggiani commands the defense – fresh from first in the Bundesliga and with a professional contract with Borussia Dortmund -, while Mattia Liberali does the honors as an attacking midfielder. The former AC Milan player, as expected, is pampered by the Catanzaro public who are seeing him mature in an extremely educational context like Serie B. Despite having much more quality than the Hungarians, Italy takes a long time to unlock it because it suffers from the density of the low block ordered by coach Kemenes. But just when the thought of returning to the locker rooms at 0-0 was in the air, a flash from a true center forward from Iddrissou arrives, volleying towards goal from a sharp left-footed cross from Cocchi. The two know each other by heart, in timing and movements, dividing their time between Benny Carbone’s Nerazzurri Primavera and Stefano Vecchi’s Inter U23 in Serie C. Iddrissou himself had previously missed a similar opportunity on Mosconi’s serve. On the second attempt, the advantage is real. The goal before the break also weighs more on a psychological level, ending up splitting the game. And so, with Hungary forced to concede more of the field, the second half almost becomes an Italian monologue with series of chances. Two are generated by Idele, who clocks up kilometers and takes the baseline to trigger Mosconi twice who lacks the precision to transform real penalties into movement. Then Liberali takes the lead, first entering the area dribbling and exalting goalkeeper Bozo, then signing the assist for the header of the wild Iddrissou. Games essentially closed, even if Nemeth’s free kick shakes Pessina’s crossbar. But the trio immediately settles the score, again starting from Cocchi’s left foot: cross fouled by a deflection into the area, substitute Comotto pounces on the rebound with a striker’s reflex (even though Gianluca’s son is a midfielder by trade). In the other group match, Türkiye-Slovakia 1-0. Head to the next ones now: Italy-Slovakia on Saturday in Cosenza, then Turkey on Tuesday again in Catanzaro.

under 17, overturned in portugal

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The adventure of Daniele Franceschini’s Under 17s also begins in the best possible way, as they host their qualifying group for the European Championship in Estonia 2026 in Umbria. Here too, as for the U19s, only the first team qualifies and therefore we understand the importance of the success (3-2) against reigning European champions Portugal. Yet, the afternoon in Gubbio started badly for the Azzurri who suffered a deadly one-two in a quarter of an hour: after just 11′ Gustavo Guerra (Porto striker) broke the deadlock, then – it was just the 15th minute – Ferreirinha comfortably made it 2-0 by taking advantage of goalkeeper Lupo’s wrong exit. Nothing seems to be working, but Italy has the merit of not disuniting and remaining on track. Aware of a still very long game. And so, the roots of the turnaround are planted already at the beginning of the recovery. Italy immediately narrows the gap with Perillo, assisted by Fugazzola: the Empoli striker confirms his feeling for goals, after having been decisive in the previous qualifying phase. This was enough to change the wind, because just 5 minutes passed before the equalizer (inspired by Corigliano) by Gianluca Okon, son of the former Lazio player Paul, who plays in the second team of Bruges and has chosen – for now – to represent Italy and not Australia. Once the balance has been restored, it is another episode that fixes the result: this time the reviewable exit is of the Portuguese number one André Marques, punished for his uncertainty by the substitute Landi (Perillo’s teammate and department mate, in Empoli). In the final, other opportunities on both sides, but it ends with three very important points. In the other match, Romania-Iceland 5-2. Saturday, in Perugia, Iceland-Italy. On March 31st, still in Gubbio, Romania.

u 18 in scotland

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Good debut also for Favo’s U18 team in Scotland: in the 3-0 win over the hosts, goals from Iddrisa (West Bromwich), Campaniello (Empoli) and Roman player Arena, on the pitch on Sunday at the Olimpico in the final minutes against Lecce (on Saturday Poland-Italy, again in Scotland, the top three will qualify for the next phase).