The Under-17 National Team got off to the best possible start in the first round of qualifying for the Euros. The Azzurrini overcame their Luxembourg opponents with ease as they resoundingly beat the home team 6-0. Magazzù and Rossi both scored in the first half, but it was during the second half when Italy really put their opponents to the sword. After Monteiro de Oliveira’s own goal, Baldanzi, Rosa and Cepele all got on the scoresheet.

The Azzurrini were in the ascendancy almost right from the first whistle; they took the lead in Rumelange after only nine minutes: Zuccon provided the delivery from a free-kick and the ball found its way to Inter forward Luca Magazzú who finished past Do Rego.

Italy were in control of the match and attempted to add to the scoreline from distance; Balzini had a shot in the 19th minute, then Rossi in the 28th and Magazzú in the 30th but on all three occasions Do Rego did well to keep them out. The second goal seemed inevitable and it arrived in the 39th minute when Empoli midfielder Alessio Rossi was fed the ball by Zuccon. He took aim and fired a right-footed shot past the Luxembourg goalkeeper.

Italy continued to attack in the second half. Zanotti took a long-range shot in 53rd minute and Monteiro de Oliveira, in an attempt to clear the ball away, sliced the ball past Do Rego and into the back of his own net. The Azzurrini bagged their fourth five minutes later: Empoli midfielder Tommaso Baldanzi received a pass from Rosa and fired past Do Rego.

But they weren’t finished there. The Azzurrini kept pressing forward and were rewarded with a goal from Atalanta forward Alessio Rosa and they got their sixth when Cepele also found the back of the net.

The Under-17s will be back in action against Nothern Ireland, who were beaten 4-0 by Turkey in the other match in the group, on Sunday (19:00 CEST) in Rumelange.

*Calendar, results and standings in Group 2

Matchday one (24 October)

Luxembourg 0-6 ITALY

Northern Ireland 0-4 Turkey

Standings: ITALY and Turkey on 3 points, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg on 0

Matchday two (27 October)

ITALY vs. Northern Ireland (19:00 CEST, Stade Municipal - Rumelange)

Luxembourg vs. Turkey (19:00 CEST, John Grun - Mondorf les Bains)

Matchday three (30 October)

ITALY vs. Turkey (19:00 CEST, John Grun - Mondorf les Bains)

Luxembourg vs. Northern Ireland (19:00 CEST, Henri Dunant - Beggen)

*The top two nations from each group will progress along with the best four third-placed sides.