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The Under 17 national team made no concessions and, despite already finishing first in Group C and with a guaranteed place in the quarter-finals, ended with maximum points after fighting back to beat Sweden 2-1 at the Paralimni Municipal Stadium Tasos Markou. Because of this result and Poland's 4-0 win over Slovakia, the Swedes leave the competition. After conceded the opener, by Fred Bozicevic in the 57th minute, the Azzurrini turned the result around thanks to goals from substitute Cristian Cama in the 75th minute and then Francesco Camarda five minutes later. In the evening, following the group D matches (Portugal vs. France and England vs. Spain, kick-off at 19:30 CEST), Massimiliano Favo's boys will know the name of their next opponents in the quarterfinals.

"We wanted to play well," said coach Massimiliano Favo. "We lined up with some lads who, up to now, hadn't had much game time; they gave a positive response. I'm not surprised that these boys fought back: they have great character and demonstrate it game after game. We are waiting to know our next opponents, knowing that we will face a strong team, who have come out of a very tough group."

THE MATCH. Italy, who had to do without the suspended Garofalo, had Natali back in the centre of defence, having been sent off during the Azzurrini's opener against Poland. Favo made eight changes to the team that beat Slovakia three days ago and, in the opening minutes, were pressured by the Swedes, who threatened through Jönsson's left-footed shot that went just over before Lahdo's right-footed shot was turned behind for a corner by Pessina. Italy were not going to lie down though and, around the quarter of an hour mark (13'), sprung to life and attacked Ramming's goal: Liberali, after leaving Sundgren for dead on the left flank, sent in a low left-footed cross for Camarda who shot weakly wide at the near post. A carbon copy followed a few minutes later (16'): Lauricella, this time, put in a low cross into the centre of the box, with his left foot, for the Azzurri number 9 who, having gone to the near post again shot straight at the Swedish goalkeeper. Just after the half hour mark, Sweden returned to the show through Busuladzic, whose right-footed thunderbolt from the edge of the box was brilliantly blocked by the nearby Verde with his right. Five minutes before the break, there was time for another opportunity for the Azzurri: Mantini, from the left wing, crossed into the area for Orlandi, whose left-footed volley dropped just wide of the right post.

After the break, following an attempt by Lahdo from 25m that was deflected for a corner, Favo's boys tried once again through Camarda, but the Italian centre-forward's header, following a cross in from the right by Lontani, ended high over the crossbar. In the 55th minute, the number 9 slipped Orlandi through who, one on one with Ramming, sensationally shot wide past the right post. In the next move, Sweden took the lead: Redkin setting up Bozicevic who, with his right, smashed the ball past the Azzurri goalkeeper from close range in the 57th minute. The Swedes continued to push forward, sensing qualification was possible and, in the 67th minute, came close to doubling their through Jönsson, but the number 10's right-footed low cross, after a nice run down the right-wing, was kept out by a very attentive Pessina. Italy upped the ante and found the equaliser to make it 1-1 in the 75th minute: following the development of yet another header from Camarda, again from Lontani's cross, the ball came back off the crossbar before Cama, who replaced Lauricella on 72 minutes, sent the ball home with a diving header. The Azzurrini had character in abundance spare and, five minutes later, they showed turning the result around: Orlandi played in a no-look through pass to Camarda who, from near the short left side, struck past across the opposition's goalkeeper with his left, sealing the game definitively.

SWEDEN 1-2 ITALY (0-0 ht)

Sweden: Ramming; Hilvenius, Antwi, Jönsson, Bozicevic (72' Vucenovic Persson), Sundgren (82' Ljungkull), Kurtulus ©, Busuladzic, Redkin (72' Andersson), Lahdo (89' Järeteg), Staykov (46' Ajdin). Subs: Fischerström (P), Nåfors Dahlin, Magnusson, Nordvall. Coach: Roger Franzén.

Italy: Pessina; Mantini (76' Di Nunzio), Verde, Camarda (85' Coletta), Liberali (72' Campaniello), Ballo, Sala, Natali ©, Lontani, Lauricella (72' Cama), Orlandi. Subs: Longoni (P), Emanuel, Coletta, Mosconi, Nardin. Coach: Massimiliano Favo.

Goals: 57' Bozicevic (S), 75' Cama (I), 80' Camarda (I).

Referee: Nenad Minaković (SRB). Assistants: Nikola Borović (SRB) and Alexis Auger (FRA). Fourth official: Pierre Gaillouste (FRA).

Bookings: Jönsson (S), Verde (I), Cama (I).

UEFA European Under-17 Championship

Group Phase

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

Group C Schedule

Matchday 1 (Tuesday 21 May)
Slovakia 0-0 Sweden
ITALY 2-0 Poland

Matchday 2 (Friday 24 May)
ITALY 2-0 Slovakia
Sweden 2-2 Poland

Matchday 3 (Monday 27 May)
Sweden 1-2 ITALY
Poland 4-0 Slovakia

Tables: ITALY 9pts, Poland 4, Sweden 2, Slovakia 1.

Knockout stages

Quarter-finals

Wednesday 29 May

Q1) 17:30 local time (16.30 CEST): Czechia vs. Denmark, Ammochostos Epistrofi Stadium in Larnaca
Q2) 20:00 local time (19:00 CEST): Austria vs. Serbia, AEK Arena in Larnaca

Thursday 30 May

Q3) 20:30 local time (19:30 CEST): ITALY vs. Group D runner-up, AEK Arena in Larnaca
Q4) 18:00 local time (17:00 CEST): Group D winner vs. Group C runner-up, Antōnīs Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca

Semi-finals (Sunday 2 June)

S1) 18 local time (17:00 CEST): Q1 winner vs. Q3 winner, AEK Arena in Larnaca
S2) 20:30 local time (19:30 CEST): Q2 winner vs. Q4 winner, Antōnīs Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca

Final (Wednesday 5 June)

20:30 local time (19:30 CEST): S1 winner vs. S2 winner, Limassol Stadium in Limassol