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Italy Under-17s, reigning European champions, started the tournament right with a 2-1 win against the Czech Republic at the Niko Dovana stadium in Durazzo, on the first matchday of Group B in the EUROs finals. The Azzurrini opened the scoring in the 38th minute through the Borussia Dortmund talent, Samuele Inácio’s tap in - he is the son of the ex-Atalanta and Napoli midfielder. Then in the 42nd minute, Pesacara’s 2009-born midfielder, Antonio Arena, powered home a header to double Italy’s lead. After the break, the Czech Republic halved the deficit through 2009-born Slavia Prague midfielder, Matouš Srb, who converted from the cross that came in from the right. It was a convincing start from Favo’s boys, who earned their first three points and jump to the top of the table with Belgium’s 1-1 draw with England in the afternoon in Rrogozhinë.

"È stata una partita molto dura - sottolinea il tecnico azzurro -. Faccio i complimenti alla Cechia, perché ci ha messo in difficoltà. Sembrava che l'avessimo chiusa nel primo tempo, ma poi l'hanno riaperta a inizio ripresa. Da quel momento in poi, complice la condizione fisica non ottimale di alcuni ragazzi, abbiamo sofferto un po', ma siamo stati bravi a portarla a casa e, nel finale, avremmo anche meritato di chiudere con qualche gol in più".

THE GAME: Italy, who have to do without the suspended Elimoghale, set up with the 4-3-1-2, with Luongo supporting the attacking duo of Inácio and 2009-born Arena. The Czech Republic, with 2009-born centre-back Pech unavailable, used a 4-2-3-1, with Potměšil, Čížek and Zajac behind the lone striker Tomek.

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The Azzurrini immediately took hold of the game, but it was the opposition who got the first chance through Potměšil who, from a corner on the right hand side, fired high over the bar. Favo’s boy’s response came straight away: Inácio did well to recover a clearance, and he shot from over 20 yards out, but his effort was easily saved by Kuchař. A few minutes later, Nava had to react to push away Zajac’s effort for a corner. In the 28th minute, Italy lost their captain Borasio to injury, after a clash with Potměšil: De Paoli came on to replace him, making his debut for Italy. This bad luck didn’t stop the Azzurrini who, after Lunogo’s long-range effort was saved by the keeper, found the opener: Steffanoni found Inácio from the right, he then got into the area, and after his first effort was blocked, he found the angle and beat the goalkeeper, striking home into the right corner. Just before the break, Favo’s boys found a second through Arena who did well to burst into the box to get on the end of Comotto’s cross and fire home.

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After the break, the Czech Republic had a change in mentality and they entered the pitch with more determination, and after Nava’s great save to deny Potměšil, Srb halved their deficit, arriving first to tuck away the second ball. Italy suffered a bit from the Czech Republic’s physicality and Favo, forced into subbing Comotto, made some clever changes. And in the final minutes, one of the subs (Comotto) came close to making it 3-1, but his header was too high. In stoppage time, Kuchař made an incredible save from the Azzurri’s regular number nine’s curling effort, and just before the final whistle that sealed Italy’s first win, the other sub, Maccaroni, missed out on his first international goal with an exquisite shot from the left that just went wide of the target.

Italy will play again on Friday 23 May (20:30 CEST), live on RaiPlay and UEFA TV) at the Arena Egnatia in Rrogozhinë for matchday 2 of Group B, where they will play England. Their upcoming opponents drew 1-1 this afternoon (18:00 CEST) with Belgium (Lyon’s Alejandro Jesús Gomes Rodríguez scored for England in the 12th minute and PSV’s Noah Fernandez equalised in the 49th minute).

Favo said, "We always want to play against big teams and England are one of them. They drew this afternoon but we know perfectly well that they are a strong side. We will play to win, as always, with maximum respect for everyone, but without fear of anyone”.

© figc.it

Italy 2-1 Czech Republic (2-0 first half)

Italy (4-3-1-2): Nava; Iddrisa, Bovio, Borasio © (28' De Paoli), Giani (59' Mambuku); Comotto © (68' Maccaroni), Prisco (68' Baralla), Steffanoni; Luongo; Inácio ©, Arena (68' Campaniello). Bench: Maran, Pavesi, Zanaga. Manager: Massimiliano Favo.

Czech Republic (4-2-3-1): Kuchař; Topič, Kovář ©, Barčot, Vaněk; Škubala (46' Palaščák), Sochůrek (86' Capka); Potměšil (81' Zeman), Čížek, Zajac (46' Srb); Tomek (59' Škrkoň). Bench: Paar, Syrovátka, Janega. Manager: Pavel Drsek.

Referee: Oleksii Derevinskyi (UKR). Assistants: Oleksii Myronov (UKR) and Olli Jantunen (FIN). Fourth official: Kamal Umudlu (AZE).

Goalscorers: 38' Inácio (ITA), 42' Arena (ITA), 53' Srb (CZE).

Notes: cautions: De Paoli (ITA) - 60', Topič (CZE) - 77', Kovář (CZE) - 78'. Stoppage time 2' ; 6’.

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Andrea Maran (Modena), Sebastiano Nava (Juventus);
Defenders: Benit Borasio (Juventus), Leonardo Noah Bovio (Inter), Cristiano De Paoli (Udinese), Laurence Adam Giani (Stoke City), Dauda Amihere Iddrisa (West Bromwich Albion), Jean Tryfose Mambuku (Stade de Reims), Davide Pavesi (Cremonese);
Midfielders: Alessio Baralla (Empoli), Christian Comotto (AC Milan), Andrea Luongo (Torino), Valerio Maccaroni (Roma), Vincenzo Prisco (Napoli), Federico Steffanoni (Atalanta);
Forwards: Antonio Arena (Pescara), Thomas Campaniello (Empoli)*, Destiny Onoguekhan Elimoghale (Juventus), Samuele Inácio (Borussia Dortmund), Edoardo Zanaga (Empoli).

* he’ll join the team on Monday 19 May due to commitments with his club.

Staff - Manager: Massimiliano Favo; Italy Youth Coordinator: Maurizio Viscidi; Vice Italy Youth Coordinator: Daniele Zoratto; Assistant manager: Davide Cei; Goalkeeper coach: Davide Quironi; Fitness coach: Adalberto Zamuner; Match analyst: Andrea Loiacono; Doctors: Sofia Calaciura Clarich and Alessandro Carducci; Physiotherapists: Giorgio Giannini; Nutritionist: Claudio Pecorella; School tutor: Stefano Presciutti; Press office: Alessandro Paoli; Secretary: Massimo Petracchini.

UEFA European Under-17 Championship Albania 2025 | Finals

Group A: Albania*, France, Germany, Portugal.
Group B: Italy, Belgium, England, Czech Republic.

*host country

Group phase (from 19 to 26 May)

Matchday 1

Monday 19 May
Albania 0-4 Portugal
Germany 0-3 France

Tuesday 20 May
England 1-1 Belgium
ITALY 2-1 Czech Republic

Matchday 2

Thursday 22 May
18:00 CEST - Albania vs. Germany, Elbasan Arena in Elbasan
20:30 CEST - France vs. Portugal, Arena Kombëtare in Tirana

Friday 23 May
18:00 CEST - Belgium vs. Czech Republic, Niko Dovana Stadium in Durrës
20:30 CEST - ITALY vs. England, Arena Egnatia in Rrogozhinë

Matchday 3

Sunday 25 May
20:30 CEST - Portugal vs. Germany, Arena Kombëtare in Tirana
20:30 CEST - France vs. Albania, Elbasan Arena in Elbasan