Mondiale Under 20

England up next in World Cup Round of 16

The Three Lions drew against Iraq to top Group E and set up a last-16 tie with Italy, who ended second in Group D. The big match will be played on 31 May in La Plata and will be shown live on Rai

Sunday, May 28, 2023

England up next in World Cup Round of 16

Italy's opponents in the Under-20 World Cup Round of 16 will be England. The Three Lions drew 0-0 with Iraq to top Group E on seven points, which has given them a matchup with the runners-up from Group D, who won their final group game 3-0 against Dominican Republic. It's a position earned on goal difference for the Azzurrini, as three teams – Brazil, Nigeria and Italy – all ended on the same points (six). By beating Nigeria 2-0, Brazil finished top with a +7 goal difference, while Italy had +2; the Africans, with their defeat, went down to +1, but qualified nonetheless as one the best third-placed teams in the competition.

Tomorrow (29 May), the entire Azzurri team will have to pack their bags and take a flight to Buenos Aires, where they will have a day to acclimatise (the English are already there) before the game on Wednesday 31 May in La Plata at 18:00 local time. “It will be a chance to get some payback," – a smiling Carmine Nunziata said, "given that it's practically the same squad we have here. Last year, we were beaten 2-1 in the semi-finals of the European Under 19s in Slovakia by them. It's going to be a great game." 

The game will be shown live on Rai, starting from 22.50 CEST.

Group D fixtures and table

Sunday 21 May
Nigeria 2-1 Dominican Republic 
ITALY 3-2 Brazil 

Wednesday 24 May
ITALY 0-2 Nigeria 
Brazil 6-0 Dominican Republic

Saturday 27 May
Brazil 2-0 Nigeria
Dominican Republic 0-3 ITALY

Tables:
 Brazil (g.d. +7), ITALY (g.d. +2), Nigeria (g.d. +1) 6 points, Dominican Republic 0 points
Qualified: Brazil, Italy, Nigeria (one of best third-placed teams)

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Squad

Goalkeepers: Sebastiano Desplanches (Trento); Jacopo Sassi (Giugliano Calcio), Gioele Zacchi (Sassuolo);
Defenders: Filippo Fiumanò (Aquila Montevarchi); Alessandro Fontanarosa (Inter), Daniele Ghilardi (Mantova), Samuel Giovane (Ascoli), Gabriele Guarino (Empoli), Riccardo Turicchia (Juventus), Mattia Zanotti (Inter);
Midfielders: Tommaso Baldanzi (Empoli), Cesare Casadei (Reading F.C.), Duccio Degli Innocenti (Empoli), Giacomo Faticanti (Roma), Luca Lipani (Genoa), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Matteo Prati (SPAL);
Attackers: Giuseppe Ambrosino Di Bruttopilo (Cittadella), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Daniele Montevago (Sampdoria), Simone Pafundi (Udinese).

Staff - Head of Delegation, Marcello Nicchi; Manager: Gianfranco Serioli ; Assistant Head Coach, Emanuele Filippini; Fitness Coach, Vito Azzone; Goalkeeping Coach, Fabrizio Ferron; Match Analyst, Marco Mannucci; Observer, Claudio Coppi; Doctors, Carmelo Papotto and Lorenzo Ticca; Physiotherapist, Giuseppe Galli and Tommaso Cannata; Nutritionist, Alessio Colli; Secretary, Aldo Blessich; Press Officer, Giuseppe Ingrati; Administration, Francesco Casella; Club Italia, Matteo Galdelli; Logistics, Carlo Fanano.

Groups and Cities
Group A: Argentina, Uzbekistan, Guatemala, New Zealand (Santiago del Estero);
Group B: USA, Ecuador, Fiji, Slovakia (San Juan);
Group C: Senegal, Japan, Israel, Colombia (La Plata);
Group D: ITALY, Brazil, Nigeria, Dominican Republic (Mendoza);
Group E: Uruguay, Iraq, England, Tunisia (La Plata);
Group F: France, South Korea, Gambia, Honduras (Mendoza).

History

(number of Under-20 World Cups won)

Argentina (six), Brazil (five), Portugal (two), Serbia (two), Ghana (one) Spain (one), Russia (one), Germany (one), England (one), France (one), Ukraine (one, current champions).