Fiorentina forward, Maat Caprini’s goal in the 15th minute of the game brought the Italy Under 18s their first win of 2024. At the Olympic Training Centre in Tirrenia, the Azzurrini beat Slovakia 1-0, doubling down on the good performance in January against Spain (0-0)

Daniele Franceschini stated: “We played a good game. We also walk away from this match with something, but we should always be trying to improve. Aside from the result, we were missing something with the final ball. The squad played especially well in the first half, but when we manage to dominate play, we need to be able to attack and try to be more incisive. For the rest, the game was played with the right attitude, all the players called up headed out on the pitch, many of them new. Another feather to our cap in our growth journey”.

Before scoring, Italy almost went ahead through Bonanomi, lined up behind Caprini and Spinaccé, but was stopped by a miracle save from Jokl. At the end of the first half, the Atalanta player had yet another chance. Less excitement in the second half with Franceschini swapping out his available men and Italy never risking an equaliser.

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Diego Mascardi (Spezia), Francesco Saverio Plaia (Spezia);
Defenders: Adam Bakoune (Milan), Niccolò Fortini (Fiorentina), Eddy Nda Konan Kouadio (Fiorentina), Matteo Giuseppe Plaia (Roma), Filippo Reale (Roma), Lorenzo Tosto (Empoli), Alessandro Ventre (Sampdoria), Andrea Zilio (Bologna);
Midfielders: Andrea Bonanomi (Atalanta), Francesco Crapisto (Juventus), Giacomo De Pieri (Inter), Lapo Deli (Fiorentina), Gabriele Finocchiaro (Juventus), Valdes Ngana (Juventus), Lorenzo Riccio (Atalanta), Mattia Zanchetta (Inter);
Forwards: Riccardo Braschi (Fiorentina), Maat Daniel Caprini (Fiorentina), Federico Ragnoli Galli (Atalanta), Matteo Spinaccé (Inter).

Staff - Head Coach: Daniele Franceschini; Assistant coach: Enrico Battisti; Goalkeeping Coach: Stefano Baroncini; Fitness Coach: Enrico Ghielmetti; Match Analyst: Gianluca Mazziotti; Doctors: Alessandro Carducci and Lorenzo Sapegno; Physiotherapist: Giorgio Giannini; Secretary: Guglielmo Cammino.