Another evening full of strong emotions. Empoli and the Azzurri fans gave the Under 17 national team the applause these boys deserved. On Wednesday evening, in Limassol, Massimiliano Favo's team did something no previous team at this level had ever experienced before: 'The European curse', it was defined on the eve of the final, but the taboo was broken by these 21 young players from from clubs from all over Italy, who met at the Castellani tonight, a few days after their triumph in Cyprus.

Before their friendly in Empoli, Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina welcomed the team, the staff, led by the head of delegation Filippo Corti (the last to enter, with the cup in his hands) and the national youth teams coordinator, Maurizio Viscidi, who performed a lap of honour at half-time during the last friendly before the men's senior team leave for Germany, after Coach Spalletti had shaken hands with each member of the squad before the national anthems. The speaker called them onto the pitch one by one, from the goalkeepers (who became three after Alessandro Longoni was forced to withdraw, being replaced by Alessandro Nunziante two days before the final), up to Francesco Camarda, scorer of a brace in the final against Portugal and to captain Mattia Mosconi, who repeated lifting the Limassol cup high in Empoli.

"This is a great tribute that the Federation and the National Team team have paid is us," said Viscidi. "We are happy for what we achieved in Cyprus and that it has been recognised by so many people. We are happy and proud. The last year has been incredible: Under 20 World Cup runners-up, Under 19 European champions, and now Under 17 European champions. It means that the talent is there, and that the future is bright."

"Hugely satisfying," added Favo. "54 teams started out at the beginning and we managed to compete and beat very strong opponents. What a joy for these boys, who I already had in the Under 15s and who won by playing quality proactive football, and for the entire Federation". Favo was coached by Spalletti when he was younger: "He called me straight away to congratulate me and sent us a motivational video before the final. The relationships are superb, with him and with the whole of Club Italia. What we are experiencing is beautiful: there is a unity of intent between small and large, and this is highly constructive".

Excited faces from those who have never experienced such a week like this: wearing the commemorative t-shirt created for the occasion, in their minds and hearts the unforgettable images of Cyprus and now also those of Empoli. "I slept with the cup and I woke up with it," said Mosconi. "On the day of the final we arrived with an incredible energy: after the first two goals against Portugal we still didn't feel confident because we had seen their comeback against Serbia. But after the third went in, however, we felt more calm. And today here we are, with goosebumps!"