A fantastic display. It was always going to be a difficult match, but Nunziata’s side managed to beat Colombia in their quarter-final showdown, running out 3-1 winners at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario. The Colombians, who pressed all over the pitch and looked to move the ball quickly, failed to get the better of the Azzurrini, who held firm and struck in devastating fashion on the counter. Casadei and Baldanzi set each other up to score, while Esposito then added a third with a fantastic flick. Italy will now fly to Buenos Aires (they’ll depart tomorrow morning) for a semi-final showdown (23:00 CEST on 8 June) against either South Korea or Nigeria, who will meet tomorrow (19:30 CEST).

The match. Giacomo Faticanti was left out as a precaution due to a muscle strain. Prati was selected in front of the defence, with Casadei and Giovane joining him in midfield. Meanwhile, Daniele Ghilardi returned at centre-back after missing the round of 16 due to suspension.

Colombia made a bright start and looked to get their wingers involved, especially down the right. However, Turicchia and Giovane remained alert to the danger. Then, the Azzurrini took the lead in the eighth minute as Casadei headed home Baldanzi’s corner. It was his sixth goal (and the third time he’s scored from a corner) of the tournament, with the midfielder remaining well in contention to win the Golden Boot. Colombia continued to play high up the pitch and press Italy, who, however, were controlling proceedings well. Nevertheless, the Cafeteros had an opportunity in the 32nd minute as Angel forced Desplanches into a stop.

Immediately afterwards, Asprilla charged forward and beat three Azzurrini players, but nothing came of it. Then, Italy netted their second: Casadei and Baldanzi combined again, with the former knocking the ball down for the Empoli man to apply the finishing touch. The teams headed into the break with Nunziata’s side two to the good.

Ambrosino had the first chance of the second half as he called Marquinez into action. Two minutes later, Italy added a third: Baldanzi progressed down the right and rolled the ball across to Esposito, who produced a beautiful back-heel flick for his first goal of the tournament.

However, Colombia were able to respond immediately through Torres, whose bending strike from outside the box hit the inside of the post and landed in the net (48’). Shortly afterwards, Casadei had a golden opportunity to make it four, but he could only hit the post with a close-range header. The minutes ticked by and Colombia had the ball in the net in the 77th minute, but it was ruled out due to a foul by Hurtado on Desplanches. Nunziata brought on fresh legs as Colombia did all that they could to make it a nervy final few minutes, but the scoreline didn’t change. Italy are in the semi-finals.

A delighted Carmine Nunziata had the following to say after the game: “We knew it’d be difficult, but the lads were fantastic; we deserve to be in the semis. Now, we’ll stop for a moment, enjoy it and find out who we’ll have to overcome next.” Pio Esposito, meanwhile, couldn’t contain his excitement: “What a feeling: goals are everything for strikers, and I’ve been waiting for such a moment. A weight has been lifted and this is a fantastic World Cup. We’re fantastic.”

Meanwhile, in today’s other match, Brazil suffered a 3-2 defeat to Israel after extra time. The Brazilians could have lost by a bigger margin, too, with the Israelis missing two penalties and several chances as the game drew to a close.

COLOMBIA 1-3 ITALY

GOALSCORERS: Casadei 9’, Baldanzi 38’, Esposito 46’, Torres 49’

COLOMBIA (4-2-3-1): Marquinez, Ocampo (Tanton 46’), Mantilla, Alvarez, Salazar; Torres (Hurtado 70’), Puerta (C), Manyoma (Luna 46’), Asprilla, Cortes (Monsalve 90’); Angel (Castilla 84’). Head Coach: Cardenas. Substitutes: Castillo, Rojas, Pedrozo, Velez, Palacios.
ITALY (4-3-1-2): Desplanches, Zanotti, Ghilardi, Guarino, Turicchia; Casadei, Prati, Giovane (C) (Lipani 60’); Esposito (Fontanarosa 95'),  Baldanzi (Degli Innocenti 90’), Ambrosino (Montevago 69’). Substitutes: Zacchi, Sassi, Faticanti, Fiumanò, Pisilli, Pafundi. Head Coach: Nunziata

REFEREE: Falahi (QAT);
ASSISTANTS: Al Naemi (QAT) and Al Shammari (QAT) Fourth official: Maarouf (EGY); VAR: Higler (NED)
NOTES. Booked: Mantilla, Puerta, Casadei, Montevag; ddded time: 2’, 10’

Schedule and Round of 16 results

Tuesday 30 May
USA 4-0 New Zealand
Uzbekistan 0-1 Israel

Wednesday 31 May
Brazil 4-1 Tunisia
Colombia 5-1 Slovakia
England 1-2 ITALY
Argentina 0-2 Nigeria

Thursday 1 June
19.30 Gambia 0-1 Uruguay
23.00 Ecuador 2-3 South Korea

QUARTER-FINALS (3 June)
Israel 3-2 Brazil
Colombia 1-3 ITALY

QUARTER-FINALS (4 June)
USA vs. Uruguay
Sourth Korea vs. Nigeria

SEMI-FINALS: 8 June

FINALS: 11 June 

Squad list

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 - Delegation Head: Marcello Nicchi; National Youth Team Coordinator: Maurizio Viscidi; Head Coach: Carmine Nunziata; Assistant Coach: Emanuele Filippini; Fitness Coach: Vito Azzone; Goalkeeping Coach: Fabrizio Ferron; Match Analyst: Marco Mannucci; Scout: Claudio Coppi; Doctors: Carmelo Papotto and Lorenzo Ticca; Physiotherapists: Giuseppe Galli and Tommaso Cannata; Nutritionist: Alessio Colli; Accompanying Director: Gianfranco Serioli; Secretary: Aldo Blessich; Press Office: Giuseppe Ingrati; Administration: Francesco Casella; Club Italia: Matteo Galdelli; Logistics: Carlo Fanano.

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).