The Italy national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Italy and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation.
| Nickname(s) | Gli Azzurrini (The Little Blues) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Italian Football Federation (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio – FIGC) | |||||||||||
| Head coach | Silvio Baldini | |||||||||||
| Captain | Luca Lipani | |||||||||||
| 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) 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
| ||||||||||||
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
- 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.
| 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
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
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
Source:
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.
2025
| 24 March 2025 Friendly | Italy | 1–1 | Denmark | Cittadella, Italy |
| 18:15 UTC+1 |
| Report |
| Stadium: Stadio Pier Cesare Tombolato Attendance: 7,000 |
| 11 June 2025 2025 UEFA U21C RR | Italy | 1–0 | Romania | Trnava, Slovakia |
| 21:00 |
| Report | Stadium: Anton Malatinský Stadium Referee: Vassilis Fotias (Greece) |
| 14 June 2025 2025 UEFA U21C RR | Slovakia | 0–1 | Italy | Trnava, Slovakia |
| 21:00 | Report |
| Stadium: Anton Malatinský Stadium Attendance: 15,455 Referee: Nenad Minaković (Serbia) |
| 17 June 2025 2025 UEFA U21C RR | Spain | 1–1 | Italy | Trnava, Slovakia |
| 21:00 |
| Report |
| Stadium: Anton Malatinský Stadium Referee: Nick Walsh (Scotland) |
| 22 June 2025 2025 UEFA U21C QF | Germany | 3–2 | Italy | Dunajská Streda, Slovakia |
| 21:00 |
| Report |
| Stadium: MOL Arena Attendance: 6,503 Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas (Lithuania) |
| 5 September 2025 2027 Championship qual. | Italy | 2–1 | Montenegro | La Spezia, Italy |
| 18:15 |
| Report |
| Stadium: Stadio Alberto Picco |
| 9 September 2025 2027 Championship qual. | North Macedonia | 0–1 | Italy | Bitola, North Macedonia |
| 18:15 | Report |
| Stadium: Stadium Petar Miloševski Attendance: 7,559 Referee: Genc Nuza (Kosovo) |
| 18 November 2025 2027 Championship qual. | Montenegro | 1–4 | Italy | Nikšić, Montenegro |
| 18:30 |
| Report |
| Stadium: City Stadium Referee: Miguel Nogueira (Portugal) |
2026
| 26 March 2026 2027 Championship qual. | Italy | v | North Macedonia | TBD, Italy |
| 31 March 2026 2027 Championship qual. | Sweden | v | Italy | TBD, Sweden |
| 1 October 2026 2027 Championship qual. | Armenia | v | Italy | TBD, Armenia |
| 5 October 2026 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 players were called up for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Poland and Montenegro on 14 and 18 November 2025, respectively.
Caps and goals as of 18 November 2025, after the match against Montenegro.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Lorenzo Palmisani | 12 June 2004 | 4 | 0 | Frosinone | |
| GK | Diego Mascardi | 26 September 2006 | 1 | 0 | Spezia | |
| GK | Edoardo Motta | 13 January 2005 | 1 | 0 | Reggiana | |
| DF | Davide Bartesaghi | 29 December 2005 | 4 | 0 | Milan | |
| DF | Filippo Mané | 8 March 2005 | 4 | 0 | Borussia Dortmund | |
| DF | Gabriele Guarino | 14 April 2004 | 3 | 0 | Empoli | |
| DF | Riyad Idrissi | 13 June 2005 | 3 | 0 | Cagliari | |
| DF | Pietro Comuzzo | 20 February 2005 | 2 | 0 | Fiorentina | |
| DF | Niccolò Fortini | 13 February 2006 | 2 | 0 | Fiorentina | |
| DF | Brando Moruzzi | 20 July 2004 | 2 | 0 | Empoli | |
| DF | Gabriele Calvani | 12 January 2004 | 0 | 0 | Frosinone | |
| MF | Niccolò Pisilli | 23 September 2004 | 19 | 5 | Roma | |
| MF | Matteo Dagasso | 1 April 2004 | 6 | 2 | Pescara | |
| MF | Luca Lipani (captain) | 18 May 2005 | 6 | 1 | Sassuolo | |
| MF | Giacomo Faticanti | 31 July 2004 | 3 | 0 | Juventus Next Gen | |
| MF | Tommaso Berti | 7 March 2004 | 2 | 1 | Cesena | |
| MF | Kevin Zeroli | 11 January 2005 | 1 | 0 | Monza | |
| FW | Seydou Fini | 2 June 2006 | 8 | 3 | Genoa | |
| FW | Luigi Cherubini | 15 January 2004 | 6 | 0 | Sampdoria | |
| FW | Francesco Camarda | 10 March 2008 | 4 | 4 | Lecce | |
| FW | Alphadjo Cissè | 22 October 2006 | 2 | 0 | Catanzaro | |
| FW | Lorenzo Venturino | 22 June 2006 | 1 | 0 | Genoa | |
| FW | Dominic Vavassori | 9 December 2005 | 0 | 0 | Atalanta U23 | |
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 | Tommaso Martinelli | 6 January 2006 | 0 | 0 | Fiorentina | v. Armenia 14 October 2025 |
| GK | Lapo Nava | 22 January 2004 | 0 | 0 | Cremonese | v. North Macedonia 9 September 2025 |
| DF | Marco Palestra | 3 March 2005 | 8 | 0 | Cagliari | v. Poland 14 November 2025 SUS |
| DF | Luca Marianucci | 23 July 2004 | 4 | 1 | Napoli | v. Armenia 14 October 2025 |
| DF | Alessandro Dellavalle | 5 January 2004 | 0 | 0 | Modena | v. Armenia 14 October 2025 |
| DF | Fabio Chiarodia | 5 June 2005 | 2 | 0 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | v. North Macedonia 9 September 2025 |
| DF | Costantino Favasuli | 26 April 2004 | 0 | 0 | Catanzaro | v. North Macedonia 9 September 2025 |
| DF | Michael Kayode | 10 July 2004 | 8 | 0 | Brentford | v. Montenegro 5 September 2025 INJ |
| DF | Giovanni Leoni | 21 December 2006 | 0 | 0 | Liverpool | 2025 U21 Championship PRE |
| MF | Cher Ndour | 27 July 2004 | 24 | 2 | Fiorentina | v. Poland 14 November 2025 INJ |
| MF | Lorenzo Amatucci | 5 February 2004 | 0 | 0 | Las Palmas | v. North Macedonia 9 September 2025 |
| FW | Luca Koleosho | 15 September 2004 | 12 | 2 | Espanyol | v. Poland 14 November 2025 SUS |
| FW | Jeff Ekhator | 11 November 2006 | 4 | 1 | Genoa | v. Poland 14 November 2025 INJ |
| FW | Simone Pafundi | 14 March 2006 | 5 | 0 | Sampdoria | v. Sweden 10 October 2025 INJ |
| FW | Antonio Raimondo | 18 March 2004 | 9 | 4 | Frosinone | v. North Macedonia 9 September 2025 |
| FW | Pio Esposito | 28 June 2005 | 11 | 7 | Internazionale | 2025 U21 Championship PRE |
INJ Withdrew due to injury | ||||||
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 |
| 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:
| 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
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