After their fantastic quarter-final victory over Colombia (3-1, goals from Casadei, Baldanzi and Esposito), the Under-20 National Team landed in Buenos Aires yesterday morning. In the afternoon, they learned that they’ll face South Korea in the semis on 8 June in La Plata. Indeed, the South Koreas ran out 1-0 winners against Nigeria, who are the only team to have beaten Italy in the tournament so far. The other semi-final will see Uruguay, who beat the USA 2-0 yesterday, face the surprise package Israel, who defeated Brazil 3-2 in a rollercoaster of a match two days ago. During their World Cup adventure so far, the Israelis have only lost to Colombia in their opening group game.

Italy have reached the last four for the third consecutive time. In the two previous editions of the tournament - in South Korea in 2017 and Poland in 2019 - the Azzurrini finished third and fourth, respectively. Leading the charge out on the pitch is Cesare Casadei, who came through the Inter youth ranks and, after being sold to Chelsea, was loaned to Reading to gain some experience. He’s the leading goalscorer in the tournament with six and has thus already beaten Riccardo Orsolini’s five-goal tally in South Korea six years ago.

South Korea are unbeaten so far this tournament having won three and drawn two. During the group stage, they beat France 2-1 and then played out a 2-2 draw with Honduras and a 0-0 stalemate with Gambia. They then overcame Ecuador in the round of 16 (3-2) before their latest victory over the Nigerians in the quarters.

Results and schedule
 
QUARTER-FINALS (3 June)

Israel 3-2 Brazil
Colombia 1-3 ITALY

QUARTER-FINALS (4 June)

USA 0-2 Uruguay
South Korea 1-0 Nigeria

SEMI-FINALS

Uruguay vs. Israel (19:30 CEST)
ITALY vs. South Korea (23:00 CEST)

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).