19 matches between Italy and France at Under 21 level until now: Azzurrini ahead in the total balance, seven wins, seven draws and five losses. 

On three occasions, a match has been played out in the final stages of the European Championships. In 1994, they played in the final four in Montpellier: France, the home side, had players such as Blanc, Zidane, Makelele and Dugarry. It finished 0-0 after 90 minutes and went to penalties: Francesco Toldo denied Makelele to allow Benny Carbone to seal the win (5-3). Italy beat Portugal in the final, securing the 2nd title for Maldini & Co. Two years later, the Final Four was played in Barcelona, with another semi final against France and the likes of Candela, Vieira, Dacourt and Wilthord. On this occasion Italy won the game  within the 90 minutes, thanks to a second half goal from Totti (1-0). We then went on to beat Spain in the final, securing our third European championship in a row. On the most recent occasion, in 2023 in Cluj, we lost: beaten 2-1 by France, and exiting the group shortly after due to a defeat to Norway. 

On another two occasions, the clashes were played in the crucial stages of qualification. In 1988, in the quarter finals: the Azzurrini were being led by Cesare Maldini who replaced Azeglio Vicini. France had players such as Laurent Blanc and Eric Cantona, but the key player in the match was Stephan Paille, Sochaux forward, French player in 1988. When the match was played in Nancy: Paolo Maldini managed to break the deadlock but goals from Paille (81') and Sauzee (90') sealed the win for France. Return leg at San Benedetto del Tronto: Rizzitelli and Ciocci scored, but the French proved too powerful again, Paille's five minute brace (83' and 88') helped. France then went on to eliminate England in the semi-final and then beat Greece in the final winning their only Under 21 title. 

Opposite result, however, in 1999: finish first in groups 1 and 4, Italy and France had to play in a play-off game to qualify for Slovakia. After the 1-1 draw in Creteil (goal from Ventola) Comandini and Pirlo took matters into their own hands in Taranto after the opening goal from Henry. Italy advanced to the Final and after a brace from Pirlo in Bratislava, the Under 21's won their fourth European championship (2-1 against Czech Republic). 

It's worth remembering the friendly on 2 June 2016 in Venezia, in memory of Valeria Solesin, one of the victims of the attack on the Bataclan Theatre in Paris. 

Italy and Ukraine have faced off six times at Under 21 level: the Azzurrini have a Toal of three wins, one draw and two defeats, the last one came at the Torneo di Tolone last June. It will be the fourth time in Italy, where the Ukrainian's have beaten three times from three. Only one clash in the Final phase of the European Championships: in 2006, in Portugal in Agueda, Italy 1-0 win in the group stage on the second matchday (Chiellini scored in 93'). Ukraine advanced, getting to the final, where they faced the Netherlands. 

Two matches have been played at the "Picco" of Spezia for the Under 21's: two wins for France (friendly in 2007) and Andorra (European Qualifications, 2016).