Italy has officially qualified for the prestigious final tournament of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship. Their qualification was sealed following a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Turkiye in the Elite Round.
This decisive match was a direct contest for the top position in Group 6, with both teams entering the game level on six points, ahead of their competitors Hungary and Slovakia.
The encounter concluded in a 1-1 stalemate. Samuele Inacio opened the scoring for the Azzurrini in the 33rd minute, though Darvin Soylu later found an equalizer for Turkiye in the 62nd minute. Despite the draw, Italy emerged as group winners thanks to their superior goal difference of +6, significantly better than Turkiye’s +2.
Coach Alberto Bollini’s squad demonstrated strong form throughout the Elite Round, securing convincing 3-0 victories against both Hungary and Slovakia in their previous matches.
As group winners, Italy will now join host nation Wales in the final tournament. The draw for the tournament groups is scheduled to take place in Wrexham on April 16.
The UEFA European Under-19 Championship will run from June 28 to July 11. Beyond determining the European champion, this competition also serves as the qualifier for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will be held in Azerbaijan.
Italy has a notable history in this competition, having most recently won the European Under-19 Championship in 2023. Their only other triumph came two decades earlier, in 2003.
Match Summary: Turkiye 1-1 Italy
Goals: Inacio 33′ (I), Soylu 62′ (T)
Italy U19 Starting Lineup:
Pessina; Nardin, Reggiani, Natali, Cocchi; Coletta (Comotto 72′), Mantini, Liberali; Idele, Mosconi, Inacio