Preparation is beginning for the Under-17 World Cup which will begin on 26 October in Brasilia. Carmine Nunziata has called up 22 players (born in 2002) for a training camp between 4 and 8 August that will also feature two friendlies against Slovenia. The first will be on Tuesday 6 August in Sezana and the second on Thursday 8 August in Gradisca with both kicking off at 19:00 CEST. Most of the players took part in the European Championship in May in Ireland when the side won eleven games in a row when taking qualifiers into account before losing 4-2 to the Netherlands. That result saw Italy qualify for the World Cup after last appearing in 2013 in Nigeria when Daniele Zoratto’s Azzurrini went out in the Round of 16, losing 2-0 to Mexico.

“There's a lot of curiosity for the challenge ahead in Brazil, it’s always exciting to play teams who’ve made a World Cup finals,” said Nunziata. “We’re aware that we have a good team which makes us confident and we’ll look to go as far as possible.” Italy are in Group F alongside Paraguay, Mexico and the Solomon Islands. The opening fixture will be at the Estadio Bezerrao in Gama on 28 October against the Solomon Islands.

On Sunday, preparation work will begin for the tournament and the squad features various players who’ve received their first call-ups such as Roma’s Edoardo Bove and Udinese’s Martin Palumbo. “It’s a great opportunity for them and the other players we’ll evaluate before heading to the World Cup. The Slovenia matches will provide an excellent test as will the Serbia matches in Rome at the start of September. We can evaluate the players and the state they’re in to put out the best team possible.” The final training camp will be between 6 and 13 October in Tirrenia.

Squad List

Goalkeepers: Manuel Gasparini (Udinese), Marco Molla (Bologna);
Defenders: Christian Dalle Mura (Fiorentina), Francesco Lamanna (Juventus), Lorenzo Moretti (Inter), Lorenzo Pirola (Inter), Alessandro Pio Riccio (Juventus), Matteo Ruggeri (Atalanta), 
Christian Di Marco (Internazionale), Raffaele Spina (Juventus);
Midfielders: Udogie Destiny Iyenoma (Hellas Verona), Michael Brentan (Juventus), Tommaso Milanese (Roma), Simone Panada (Atalanta), Niccolo’ Squizzato (Internazionale), 
Franco Tongya Heubang (Juventus), Edoardo Bove (Roma), Andrea Capone (Milan), Nikola Sekulov (Juventus), Matias Rocchi (Bologna);
Forwards: Nicholas Bonfanti (Internazionale), Martin Palumbo (Udinese).

Staff: Coach, Carmine Nunziata; Assistant Coach, Emanuele Filippini; Secretary, Massimo Petracchini; Goalkeeping Coach, Fabrizio Ferron; Fitness Coach, Marco Montini; Medico, Carmelo Papotto; Physiotherapist, Giuliano Gepponi; Nutritionist, Maria Luisa Cravana.