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 Football Championship, held every two years. Italy is
the most successful nation in the history of the competition, with
five Championships won.
Following the realignment of
UEFA's youth
competitions in 1976, the Italian Under-21 team was formed. Until
1990, the team had a very good record - reaching the last eight of
each of the first seven UEFA U-21 Championships. From 1990 to 2004
the team established near-total dominance of European
Under-21 football, winning five of the seven
tournaments.
The lowest point for the team came in 1997, when it failed to
qualify for the 1998 finals.
The team won the 2004
tournament finals in Germany
.
In the
2006
tournament finals in Portugal
the team
failed to advance to second round. This was Italy's 14th
U-21 finals tournament.
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.
In the
2009 U-21
Championship Italy was eliminated in the semi-finals.
UEFA U-23 Championship Record
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
- 1978:
Losing quarter-finalists.
- 1980:
Losing quarter-finalists.
- 1982:
Losing quarter-finalists.
- 1984:
Losing semi-finalists.
- 1986:
Runners-up.
- 1988:
Losing quarter-finalists.
- 1990:
Losing semi-finalists.
- 1992:
Winners.
- 1994:
Winners.
- 1996:
Winners.
- 1998:
Did not qualify.
- 2000:
Winners.
- 2002:
Losing semi-finalists.
- 2004:
Winners.
- 2006:
Finished 3rd of 4 in finals group.
- 2007:
Finished 5th by winning Olympic qualification play-off.
- 2009:
Losing semi-finalists.
Olympics football Record
Since 1992 Olympics football changed to U-23 event, and the
European U-21 teams, technically is a U-23 teams.The winner,
runner-up and third place of UEFA U-21 Championship qualify for
Olympics.
Mediterranean Games Record
Mediterranean Games Football tournament was U-23 event in 1993 and
1997.
- 1993: 4th place
- 1997: Winners
- 2001 and 2005: a U-20 and U-18 event
Coaches
Current players
Players born in
1988 or later are eligible for
the
2011 UEFA
European Under-21 Football Championship.
Note: Players in
italics have already been called up to
the
senior team.
Current squad
Squad called up for
Euro
2011 Qualification matches against
Hungary and
Luxembourg on 13
and 17 November 2009.
Caps and goals as of
17 November 2009.
| Name |
Date of birth |
Club |
Caps (goals) |
Debut |
| Goalkeepers |
| Vincenzo Fiorillo |
|
Sampdoria |
3 (0) |
v. Austria, 25 March
2009 |
| Vito Mannone |
|
Arsenal |
2 (0) |
v. Hungary, 13 November
2009 |
| Andrea Seculin |
|
Fiorentina |
4 (0) |
v. Austria, 25 March
2009 |
| Defenders |
| Gabriele Angella |
|
Empoli |
2 (0) |
v. Wales,
4 September 2009 |
| Lorenzo Ariaudo |
|
Juventus |
5 (1) |
v. Austria, 25 March
2009 |
| Michele Cremonesi |
|
Cremonese |
0 (0) |
N/A |
| Davide Brivio |
|
Vicenza |
3 (0) |
v. Russia, 12 August
2009 |
| Lorenzo De Silvestri |
|
Fiorentina |
16 (0) |
v. Albania, 11
September 2007 |
| Angelo Ogbonna |
|
Torino |
4 (0) |
v. Russia, 12 August
2009 |
| Andrea Ranocchia |
|
Bari |
9 (1) |
v. France, 21 August
2007 |
| Francesco Renzetti |
|
Padova |
1 (0) |
v. Austria, 25 March
2009 |
| Midfielders |
| Antonino Barillà |
|
Reggina |
6 (2) |
v. Austria, 25 March
2009 |
| Francesco Bolzoni |
|
Frosinone |
9 (0) |
v. Faroe Islands,
21 November 2007 |
| Luca Marrone |
|
Juventus |
3 (0) |
v. Bosnia-Herzegovina,
13 October 2009 |
| Mattia Mustacchio |
|
Ancona |
4 (0) |
v. Russia, 12 August
2009 |
| Andrea Poli |
|
Sampdoria |
9 (1) |
v. Sweden, 11 February
2009 |
| Davide Santon |
|
Internazionale |
3 (0) |
v. Netherlands, 31
March 2009 |
| Ezequiel Schelotto |
|
Cesena |
2 (0) |
v. Hungary, 13 November
2009 |
| Roberto Soriano |
|
Sampdoria |
4 (1) |
v. Wales,
4 September 2009 |
| Strikers |
| Mario Balotelli |
|
Internazionale |
15 (6) |
v. Greece, 5 September
2008 |
| Fabio Borini |
|
Chelsea |
2 (0) |
v. Hungary, 13 November
2009 |
| Federico Macheda |
|
Manchester United |
3 (0) |
v. Russia, 12 August
2009 |
| Guido Marilungo |
|
Lecce |
4 (2) |
v. Luxembourg, 8
September 2009 |
References
See also
Sources/External links
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