Four national teams for four competitions: the Under 21s, Under 20s, Under 19s and Under 17s will all compete in Europe's most important Youth football tournaments  - with Italy being the only European country to have qualified for all four of them, along with the Under 19 Futsal team who will be busy in their European finals in September. The Under 21s qualified last year for the finals Romania in June and they will face Switzerland, Norway anf France in their group. By reaching the Under 19 European championship semi-finals, Italy can now participate in the Under-20 World Cup finals next May, while in recent week, the Under 19s, Under 17s and Futsal Under 19s all had their places confirmed at their respective Euros.

These are excellent results that underline the investment made by the Federation, the great work done by Club Italia, but also the quality of the young players. In the last four Men's Under 19 and Under 17 European Championships, Italy is the only Federation to have eight sides competing in the finals.

“Winning a gold medal would be really something special," said Men's Youth Sector National Coordinator, Maurizio Viscidi. "The consistency of positive results is a ign that we are working well. The aim every year is to bring though two or three guys to the First Team, as has happened with some from the class of 2003: Scalvini, Miretti and Gnonto have gone right through the system; the first two from the Under 15s and Gnonto from the Under 16s, until making their debuts under Mancini.” For a recipe of success, you need to know how to mix several ingredients: “First of all, it's hard work on a daily basis," underlines Viscidi, "and then the coaches being all lined up, from one camp to the next sharing everything, from the methodology to the training sessions to analysis of the games. Another fundamental element is scouting, which allows you to be constantly informed and updated on the progress of players. Then, thanks to the Federation's economic input, there's the chance to play at international level against teams of the highest quality. And it gives us a great pleasure to know that some of the strongest countries have been asking to face us recently for their teams' development."

But there is still one hurdle to get over so as to not waste this precious work: “Up to the Under 19s, the route for our lads is well-structured and there's a clear path, then the difference starts to show between the Primavera league and the First Team squads. This is the biggest and most difficultstep up to make.”

Under 19. After being placed into a group of death with Germany, Belgium and Slovenia, Alberto Bollini's Under-19s side needed to do something special and win the group in order to qualify to the Finals. And that's just what they did thanks to an opening 3-2 win over hosts Germany, in a match full of excitement and emotions, with the Azzurrini going 2-0 up before being pegged back 2-2. They were, though, able to turn the game on its head with a goal at the end from Roma midfielder Niccolò Pisilli, who grabbed a brace in the game. After the 0-0 draw against Slovenia in the second match, the 2-2 result with Belgium was enough in Bremen thanks to penalties from D’Andrea and Esposito, giving Italy a ticket to the finals in Malta from 3 to 16 July.

Under 17. Instead, for Bernardo Corradi's Under-17s to reach the finals they only needed a second-place finish in Cyprus, ending unbeaten on seven points along with the Republic of Ireland, who topped the group on goal difference. After a 2-2 draw in their first game, against the Irish, Italy edged past Cyprus (2-1) before then comfortbaly beating Ukraine 3-0 courtesy of goals from Ravaglioli, Liberali and Mendicino. The Azzurrini will be in action in the finals in Hungary from 17 May to 2 June, where they will face Spain, Serbia and Slovenia in the groups stages. The top two will go through to the quarter-finals, with five World Cup Under-17 spots up for grabs. 

Under 19 Futsal. Also the Under 19 Futsal team have qualified the Euro finals, which will be played at Žatika Arena Porec in Croazia from 3 to 10 September (the draw is still be drawn). Along with the Azzurrini, Croatia, Spain (winner of the two previous editions), France, Slovenia, Portugal, Finland and Ukraine will all be participating.

“We're proud to have continued on from the two-year journey the previous team did," said Azzurrini and First Team Head Coach Massimiliano Bellarte. " Qualifying was not taken for granted lightly. Almost every group went down to the last group game, proving how difficult it was to get through. In September, we want to be ready so we can improve on last year's showing.” In the edition in Jaén in Spain, Italy went out at at the first hurdle, the groups stages, finishing in their spot behind Poland and Portugal. Once again in the competition in Porec, the eight countries will be dividied into two groups of four, with the top two going on to the semi-finals.