Sebastiano Esposito is amongst the 20 names called up by Coach Alberto Bollini for the first stage of qualifying for the U19 European Championship. The Inter striker, the only player in the group born in 2002, continues his career in the Italian youth teams after wearing the shirts of the Under-15s, Under-16s, Under-17s and Under-18s.

Included in Group 6, Italy will be looking to take advantage of the home advantage in winning one of the two places in the final stage (the best third-placed team of the 13 groups will also qualify). The U19 National Team play their first game of the tournament against Malta on Wednesday 13 November in Misano Adriatico. They then face Cyprus on Saturday 16 in Santarcangelo di Romagna and Slovakia on Tuesday 19 in Misano Adriatico for the final match of the round.

The side have reached two finals in the last four years: one lost 4-0 to Kylian Mbappè's France in 2016 and then a defeat in extra time against Portugal in 2018. The Azzurrini failed to progress to the final stage after defeats against Portugal and Spain in Armenia last July.

Squad list:

Goalkeepers: Federico Brancolini (Fiorentina), Alessandro Russo (Sassuolo);

Defenders: Nicolò Armini (Lazio), Lorenzo Colombini (Inter), Paolo Gozzi Iweru (Juventus), Michael Ntube (Inter), Memeh Caleb Okoli (Atalanta), Edoardo Pierozzi (Fiorentina), Fabio Ponsi (Fiorentina);

Midfielders: Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus), Jean Freddi Greco (Torino), Manu Emmanuel Gyabuaa (Atalanta), Federico Marigosu (Cagliari), Alessio Riccardi (Roma), Samuele Ricci (Empoli), Nicolò Rovella (Genoa);

Forwards: Sebastiano Esposito (Inter), Elia Petrelli (Juventus), Roberto Piccoli (Atalanta), Eddie Anthony Salcedo Mora (Hellas Verona).

Staff – Head of delegation: Evaristo Beccalossi; Coordinator: Maurizio Viscidi; Coach: Alberto Bollini; Secretary: Aldo Blessich; Assistant coach: Giovanni Valenti; Athletic coach: Vito Azzone; Goalkeeping coach: Graziano Vinti; Match analyst: Mirko Magistro; Doctors: Luca Labianca and Emanuele Fabrizi; Physiotherapists: Giuseppe Galli and Roberto Cardarelli; Tutors: Giorgio Orlando and Marco Lista.

 

*Group 6 schedule (all times CET)

Matchday one (13 November)

Cyprus vs. Slovakia (12:00 - Forli)

ITALY vs. Malta (15:00 - Misano Adriatico)

Matchday two (16 November)

Slovakia vs. Malta (12:00 - Misano Adriatico)

ITALY vs. Cyprus (15:00 - Santarcangelo di Romagna)

Matchday three (19 November)

ITALY vs. Slovakia (15:00 - Misano Adriatico)

Malta vs. Cyprus (15:00 - Santarcangelo di Romagna)

*The top two of each group along with the best third-placed side out of all the groups will progress to the final stage.