Following their narrow friendly defeats (2-1 and 4-3) away to France, the U17s are set to meet up again ahead of the second phase of Euro qualifying. From 7 to 13 March, the Azzurrini will take on Cyprus, the Republic of Ireland and Ukraine on Cypriot soil. At stake is a place in the finals in Hungary in May.

Bernardo Corradi has called up 24 players (21 were born in 2006 and three others, Matteo Cocchi, Francesco Verde and Mattia Liberali, in 2007) for a training camp that will get underway on Tuesday 28 February at the Giulio Onesti Olympic Training Centre in Rome. On Friday 3 March, Italy’s 20-man squad for the Elite Round of qualifying will be confirmed, after which the team will fly to Cyprus the day after.

The Azzurrini will then face the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday 7 March, Cyprus three days later and, finally, Ukraine on Monday 13 March. All three matches will be plated at 14:00 CET in Paphos, a coastal city on the southwest coast of the island.

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Tommaso Martinelli (Fiorentina), Diego Mascardi (Spezia), Francesco Plaia (Spezia);
Defenders: Matteo Cocchi (Inter), Fabio De Sole (Torino), Vittorio Magni (Milan), Filippo Pagnucco (Juventus), Gabriel Ramaj (Atalanta), Edoardo Sadotti (Fiorentina), Alessandro Ventre (Juventus), Francesco Verde (Juventus);
Midfielders: Andrea Bonanomi (Atalanta), Francesco Crapisto (Juventus), Giacomo De Pieri (Inter), Mattia Liberali (Milan), Mattia Mannini (Roma), Leonardo Mendicino (Atalanta), Gabriele Paolocci (Lazio), Lorenzo Riccio (Atalanta), Marco Romano (Genoa);
Forwards: Federico Ragnoli Galli (Atalanta), Emanuele Rao (Spal), Tommaso Ravaglioli (Bologna), Filippo Scotti (Milan).

Staff – Head Coach: Bernardo Corradi; National Youth Team Coordinator: Maurizio Viscidi; Assistant Coaches: Emanuele Filippini and Massimiliano Favo; Fitness Coach: Adalberto Zamuner; Goalkeeping Coach: Davide Quironi; Match analyst: Andrea Loiacono; Doctor: Attilio Romano; Nutritionist: Claudio Pecorella; Physiotherapist: Fabrizio Casati; Secretary: Massimo Petracchini.