If we had to describe Federico Coletta with one adjective, there would be no doubt: humble. Two days ago, the Roma midfielder starred in the 2-0 win over Poland, showing great sacrifice and getting the second goal - with an assist by Ballo - that allowed the National Under 17 team to earn his country's first three points on their debut in the European Championship, and thus moving them to top of Group C thanks to the 0-0 draw between Slovakia and Sweden in the other group match.

"Wearing the Azzuri shirt," the 2007-born player confesses, "is the dream of everyone who plays football. It is the first time that I played with my name on the shirt. I would like to particularly thank Coach Favo, who is giving me the opportunity to be a part of this." An opportunity which, up to now, he has made the most of, also thanks to the presence of three of his club mates in the national team (Cama, Di Nunzio and Nardin): "They are important," he underlines, "because we have known each other for years, both on and off the pitch. I can say that I have bonded with everyone, the boys and the staff, and that I felt like an integral part of the group from the first moment I arrived." This togetherness in the Italy group could prove decisive tomorrow (17:00 CEST, live on Rai Play and UEFA TV) at the Dasaki Achnas Stadium against Slovakia as, in the event of victory, Massimiliano Favo's Azzurrini would qualify for the quarter-finals with a game to spare: "We arrived in Cyprus," he specifies, "with the awareness that we could compete with everyone. After a qualifying phase in which we performed below our capabilities, we carried out a very good elite phase and, now, we will do everything we can to get to the final on June 5."

Born on 29 May 2007 in Rome to father Alessandro and mother Fabiana, he started playing football at the age of five for Polisportiva Vigor Perconti, an amateur club from Lazio where his brother Flavio also played from 2012 to 2016, before joining Roma's youth sector four years later. In the Giallorossi, he won last year's Under 16 league title, opening the scoring in the 3-2 final against Fiorentina while, this season, inspired by the exploits of Paulo Dybala in the first team ("He's phenomenal") and in the hope of continuing the tradition of the Giallorossi youth team ("Totti and De Rossi are two examples") stood out with Gianluca Falsini's Under 17 team, collecting 15 goals (three in the play offs) and six assists in 23 games. And tomorrow, with the national team against Slovakia, he will have a new opportunity to do so.

UEFA European Under-17 Championship

Group stage

Group A: Cyprus, Ukraine, Serbia, Czechia.
Group B: Denmark, Austria, Croatia, Wales.
Group C: ITALY, Sweden, Slovakia, Poland.
Group D: France, Portugal, Spain, England.

Group C schedule

Matchday 1 (Tuesday 21 May)

Slovakia 0-0 Sweden
ITALY 2-0 Poland

Matchday 2 (Thursday 24 May)

17:00 CEST: ITALY vs. Slovakia, Dasaki Achnas Stadium in Dasaki
17:00 CEST: Sweden vs. Poland, AEK Arena in Larnaca

Matchday 3 (Monday 27 May)

17:00 CEST: Sweden vs. ITALY, Paralimni Municipal Stadium Tasos Markou in Paralimni
17:00 CEST: Poland vs. Slovakia, Dasaki Achnas Stadium in Dasaki

Knockout phase

Quarter-finals (Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 May)

Semi-finals (Sunday 2 June)

Final (Wednesday 5 June)