A 15-game journey, from the friendly on 10 August 2022 at Coverciano against Albania’s U19s which ended 3-0 to the final at Ta Qali on 16 July 2023, which culminated in a European triumph: across 11 months, the Azzurrini totalled 9 victories, 3 draws and 3 defeats (1 in a friendly against Spain, 2 in the Euros against Estonia and Portugal). 

On an individual level, Vignato is the goalscorer, with 5 goals (7 including the friendlies), followed by D’Andrea and Hasa (4, all at the Euros). Vignato is also the only player to feature in all 11 Euros matches, followed by Mastrantonio, Missori, Regonesi and Hasa (10). He is also joint at the top of the scoreboards with Barberà for the most goals in the entire European Championship (5, only Mattia Destro has managed more than that in history, with 8 in 2009/10), however, the Spaniard scored the most in the Final Stage, with 4 goals in Malta.

In the Final Stage, the Azzurrini ended with 3 victories, 1 draw and 1 loss, 10 goals scored and 8 conceded. They recorded 17 yellow cards and 1 red (Lipani). In total, they committed 71 fouls and suffered 75. Including all games played this season, the goal tally stands at 32/19, with an average of 2.00 points per match, with 6 clean sheets.

For Italy, this was the 9th presence at the Final Stage in 20 editions (the tournament was established in 2001-02, as an evolution of the same tournament held since 1982 for the National Under-18 Teams), the same number as Germany, only Spain (13), France and Portugal (12) and England (11) can boast better appearances. The Azzurrini have reached 5 finals, won 2 (2023 and 2003) and lost 3 (2008,2016 and 2018), as well as a semifinal (2022). They have been eliminated in the first round 3 times; in the other 11 editions, 8 eliminations at the Elite Stage (the second qualification stage) and 3 eliminations in the first stage. 

 Filippo Melegoni has the most appearances in Italy U19 history: 28 matches, 14 of which wearing the captain’s armband and 4 goals. Bettella and Candela follow with 25. Amongst the top goalscorers, Destro leads (14), followed by Lodi (11), Alberti (9) and Scamacca and Riccardi (8). l

 

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2023

1st Stage (POLAND, September 2022)

Italy – Estonia                        0-2

Italy – Bosnia Herzegovina      3-2       2 Vignato, Hasa         

Poland – Italy                        0-1       Vignato

Italy advance as the best third-placed team

2nd Stage (GERMANY, March 2023)

Germany – Italy                    2-3       2 Pisilli, D’Andrea

Slovenia – Italy                      0-0

Italia – Belgium                          2-2       Esposito, D’Andrea    

Italy qualify in first place

Final Stage (MALTA, July 2023)

Italy – Malta                          4-0       Ndour, Esposito, D’Andrea, Vignato

Portugal – Italia                   5-1       Lipani

Italy – Poland                        1-1       Hasa

Italy – Spain                        3-2       Vignato, Pisilli, Lipani

Italy – Portugal                   1-0       Kayodè

 

Friendlies 2022-23

Italy – Albania                       3-0       Kumi, Ignacchiti, Raimondo

Italy – Hungary                     3-0       2 Hasa, Vignato

Italia – Hungary                     7-2       2 Mancini, Vignato, Raimondo, aut. Tuboli, D’Andrea, Missori

Spain – Italy                        1-0

 

SCORERS

7 goals: Vignato

4 goals: D’Andrea, Hasa

3 goals: Pisilli

2 goals: Mancini, Vignato, Raimondo, Lipani, Esposito

1 goals: Missori, Kumi, Ignacchiti, Ndour.

1 own-goal in Italy's favour