The Under 19 National Team's campaign in the European qualifiers got off to the best start possible: in Archanes, the Azzurrini won 3-0 against Montenegro, in the opening match of Group 8. Alberto Bollini's side broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute with the captain Mattia Mannini, Roma midfielder, before doubling their lead in the 45th minute thanks the Genoa striker Jefferson Ekhator Osayuki, while the 17 year old Milanista Francesco Camarda hit the post just before half time. In the second half, after hitting the post in the 58th minute, Italy finished off the game in the 61st minute through the Atalanta midfielder Lorenzo Riccio's goal. 

The Azzurri coach shared his thoughts saying: "We have started really well as we have been able to win against a difficult opponent, gifted with great attacking characteristics. The result doesn't tell the whole story, because it wasn't a simple game. We did well to score first, creating a lot of goalscoring chances, as well as hitting the post twice through Camarda. The first half of the game wasn't easy to manage, considering the little time that we have had to prepare (the Azzurrini started their camp on Sunday evening at Fiumicino) but we did well to overcome the obstacles as a group". 

Italy will be back in action at the Stadio Municipale of Archanes on Saturday 16 November at 12:00 CET to take on Bosnia and Herzegovina, who were defeated 5-2 by Greece in the other match of Group 8, played at the 'Theodoros Vardinogiannis' Stadium in Heraklion. "We will prepare for the match with care - Bollini continued - as we are used to doing. We can't underestimate this opponent, so we are going to enjoy this win, applauding and praising the boys and staff, before resetting and restarting from zero, starting from tomorrow". 

ITALIA-MONTENEGRO 3-0 (2-0 HT.)

Italia (4-3-3): Martinelli; Magni (86' Fini), Leoni, Natali, Pagnucco (90'+2 Cocchi); Mannini © (90'+3 Sia), Sala (67' Romano), Riccio; Fortini, Ekhator (86' Mendicino), Camarda. Unused subs.: Marin (GK), Plaia, Liberali. Head Coach.: Alberto Bollini.

Montenegro (4-3-3): Milović; Vračar ©, Tomašević, Karadžić, Kumburović; Bulatović (77' Zlatičanin), Vukanić, Zekovic; Camaj (77' Šekularac), Tadić (71' Perović), Kostić (62' Ćetković). Unused subs.: Božinović (GK), Maraš, Martinović, Vlahović, Mijović. Head Coach.: Goran Perišić.

Scorers: 23' Mannini, 45' Ekhator, 61' Riccio.

Referee: Henrik Nalbandyan (ARM). Assistants: Mesrop Ghazaryan (ARM) and Michail Papadakis (GRE). Fourth official: Petros Tsagkarakis (GRE).

Notes: booked Bulatović (M), Sala (I), Leoni (I), Zekovic (M), Fortini (I), Mendicino (I). Stoppage time 2' First half, 3' second half.