The National Under-20 team's season has begun in the best possible way. This year's side, under the guidance of Carmine Nunziata, who will be there in the World Cup in Indonesia next May, beat Portugal 2-1 in the 8 Nations Tournament. After defeat in the first match at home against Poland last June in San Benedetto del Tronto, the Azzurrini's first win came in Lisbon. They took the lead in the first half thanks to a header by Cesare Casadei, the Chelsea midfielder, before doubling it in the second half with a 65th minute goal from Roma forward Cristian Volpato, who had come on eight minutes beforehand, replacing Ambrosino. Portugal reduced the deficit 12 minutes from the end with a penalty, converted by Renato Veiga, but Nunziata's boys still managed to bring home the win. The end of the match was marred by three dismissals in the final minutes: Italy were left with ten men after Mulazzi's red card, and Portugal with nine (Rodrigo Beirão and Martim Tavares were both sent off). 

"It was a tough match," admitted the Azzurri coach, "between two teams that played good football and with a great desire to succeed. We had a great match, with high intensity, because it is never easy to come to Portugal and win". 

The match against Portugal will be followed by the friendly match against Switzerland on Tuesday 27 September (17.30 CEST, live on RaiSport) at the Stadio Franco Ossola, in Varese. The two Under 20s sides will play for the second time in history, after the only previous match in April 2003 against the Swiss national team, beaten with a resounding 8-0 scoreline in the old 4 Nations Tournament format.

Italy's schedule in the 8 Nations Tournament

7 June 2022: ITALY 0-1 Poland

23 September 2022: Portugal 1-2 ITALY 

17 November 2022: Romania vs. ITALY

21 November 2022: ITALY vs. Czech Republic

23 March 2023: Norway vs. ITALY

27 March 2023: ITALY vs. Germany