A new cycle is beginning for the Under-21 National Team, who have two away trips coming up to Lativa and Turkey. Now led by Carmine Nunziata, who guided the U20s to the World Cup final in Argentina earlier this year, the Azzurrini are set to begin their qualifying campaign for the 2025 European Under-21 Championship, which will be held in Slovakia. Italy have been placed in Group A together with Lativa, Turkey, the Republic of Ireland, Norway and San Marino. The Latvians already have three points to their name after defeating San Marino in June.

The Azzurrini’s first qualifying match is scheduled for 16:00 CEST on Friday 8 September in Jurmala, while their match against Turkey will take place at 18:30 CEST on Tuesday 12 September in Sakarya. While the U21s have never faced their Latvian counterparts before, there have been nine previous encounters with Turkey, with Italy winning six of them. This includes the last meeting, which saw Destro bag a brace in a 2-0 victory in November 2011. Two draws and a Turkey win complete the picture.

The group will meet up on Sunday 3 September at the Olympic Preparation Centre in Tirrenia before getting down to work the following day. Carmine Nunziata will hold his first press conference as Under-21 Head Coach at 14:30 CEST on Monday 4 September.

Squad List

Goalkeepers: Sebastiano Desplanches (Palermo), Jacopo Sassi (Pro Vercelli), Gioele Zacchi (Giana Erminio)
Defenders: Giorgio Cittadini (Monza), Diego Coppola (Hellas Verona), Daniele Ghilardi (Sampdoria), Gabriele Guarino (Empoli), Lorenzo Pirola (Salernitana), Matteo Ruggeri (Atalanta), Riccardo Turicchia (Juventus), Destiny Iyenoma Udogie (Tottenham), Mattia Zanotti (St. Gallen)
Midfielders: Tommaso Baldanzi (Empoli), Edoardo Bove (Roma), Cesare Casadei (Leicester), Giovanni Fabbian (Bologna), Jacopo Fazzini (Empoli), Fabio Miretti (Juventus), Cher Ndour (Paris Saint Germain), Simone Panada (Sampdoria), Matteo Prati (Cagliari), Franco Heubang Tongya (Odense)
Forwards: Marco Nasti (Bari), Lorenzo Colombo (Monza), Francesco Pio Esposito (Spezia), Gaetano Pio Oristanio (Cagliari)

2025 UEFA EUROPEAN UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATION - GROUP A
Friday 8 September (16:00 CEST): Latvia vs. Italy (Jurmala)
Tuesday 12 September (18:30 CEST): Turkey vs. Italy (Sakarya)
Tuesday 17 October (17:45 CEST): Italy vs. Norway (Bolzano)
Thursday 16 November: San Marino vs. Italy
Tuesday 21 November: Republic of Ireland vs. Italy
Friday 22 March 2024: Italy vs. Latvia
Tuesday 26 March 2024: Italy vs. Turkey
Thursday 5 September 2024: Italy vs. San Marino
Tuesday 10 September 2024: Norway vs. Italy
Tuesday 15 October 2024: Italy vs. Republic of Ireland

Standings: Latvia (1) 3, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Norway, Turkey, San Marino (1) 0