The National Under-20 team go again with Alberto Bollini as manager: the coach, who last July led the Under-19 team to conquer a European title that had evaded Italy for 20 years, rejoins the 2004 group. They will be involved in the Elite League, a tournament reserved for eight national teams that Italy won in 2022 with Bollini at the helm. Bollini had initially been appointed assistant coach of the National A team but, after the change of technical leadership, he chose to remain on the Club Italia roster. 

"It is impossible to not live the Azzurri jersey - his words -. The enthusiasm and empathy after winning the European Championship form the engine that will lead us to experience every moment with the maximum energy: knowing then that the Under-20 group will be composed of many of the stars of the Under-19 European Championship is further motivation to do well and continue along the path that led us to the heights of Europe. I feel the responsibility to put the player at the centre of my work: when the boys are on the pitch, there are no other thoughts than those related to their development.” 

The Under-20s' adventure in the Elite League will begin with two away matches: on Thursday, 7 September, at 17:00 CEST, the Azzurrini will face Germany at Auf Dem Wurplatz in Berlin, while on Monday, 11 September, also at 17:00 CEST, Italy will play against the Czech Republic in Tabor. England, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Romania will also take part in the tournament. Bollini has called up 23 players, who will meet on the evening of Sunday 3 September in Grassobbio (Bergamo) and fly to Germany on Tuesday 5. A first call-up with the Italian national team for striker Lucas Roman (Barcelona).

The squad

Goalkeepers: Davide Mastrantonio (Monterosi Tuscia), Lorenzo Palmisani (Olbia)
Defenders: Andrea Bozzolan (Perugia), Pietro Comuzzo (Fiorentina), Alessandro Dellavalle (Torino), Alessandro Fontanarosa (Cosenza), Michael Olabode Kayode (Fiorentina), Lorenzo Lucchesi (Ternana), Iacopo Regonesi (Atalanta), Filippo Terracciano (Verona)
Midfielders: Lorenzo Amatucci (Fiorentina), Giacomo Faticanti (Lecce), Samuel Giovane (Ascoli), Luis Hasa (Juventus), Riccardo Pagano (Roma), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma)
Attackers: Luca D'Andrea (Catanzaro), Luca Warrick Daeovie Koleosho (Burnley), Daniele Montevago (Gubbio), Lucas Roman (Barcelona), Nicolò Turco (Liefering), Samuele Vignato (Monza), Cristian Volpato (Sassuolo)

Staff - Coach: Alberto Bollini; Head of Delegation: Evaristo Beccalossi; Assistant coach: Marco Scarpa; Physical trainer: Nicolò Varesco; Goalkeeper coach: Marco Roccati; Match analyst: Luca Dalmasso; Medics: Carmelo Papotto, Riccardo Monti, Benedetto Carta; Physios: Angelo Cartocci, Giuseppe Galli; Nutritionists: Alessio Colli; Secretary: Luca Gatto

ELITE LEAGUE 2023-24 - ITALY'S MATCHES
Thursday 7 September (17:00 CEST): Germany-Italy (Berlin)
Monday 11 September (17:00 CEST): Czech Republic-Italy (Tabor)
Friday 13 October: Italy-Poland
Thursday 16 November: England-Italy
Tuesday 21 November: Italy-Portugal
Thursday 21 March 2024: Romania-Italy
Monday 25 March 2024: Italy-Norway