Seven goals and three points. In Latina, in front of over 3000 fans, the Under-21 National Team resumed their Euro qualifying campaign with a 7-0 victory over San Marino (the same result as in the reverse fixture) ahead of the upcoming clash with Norway in Stavanger at 18:30 CEST on Tuesday 10 September and their final Group A match against the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday 15 October in Trieste. In those 180 minutes, the Azzurrini will play for top spot, but, in the meantime, they comfortably got the better of their opponents today thanks to a brilliant four-goal haul from Pio Esposito (he’s become just the second Italy U21 player to achieve this feat, following in the footsteps of Alberto Gilardino in Italy 8-1 Wales on 5 September 2003), strikes from Edoardo Bove and Antonio Raimondo, and an own goal from Matteoni.

“We struggled a bit at the start before slowly starting to play better and with more pace,” said Head Coach Carmine Nunziata. “Matches need to be played from the start until the end. I always demand the same desire and determination because that’s the only way to get used to playing at a certain intensity. We’re happy with the win and the fact that none of our players on the verge of suspension were booked. The only disappointing thing is the injuries to Fazzini and Baldanzi, but hopefully we can get them back fit. Esposito needed this kind of match. He was in great goalscoring form, but his teammates did well to find him.”

THE MATCH. Italy went on the attack from the get-go, with Baldanzi lining up behind Esposito and Gnonto. The first chance fell the way of Fazzini, whose right-footed effort finished narrowly wide, after which the visiting goalkeeper Amici denied Baldanzi. In the 14th minute, Fazzini was forced off with a physical problem, with Ndour coming on in his place.

Gnonto tested Amici eight minutes later, before Esposito headed the resulting corner over the bar. After Raimondo had replaced Baldanzi (he’d received a blow to his back just a few minutes before coming off), Edoardo Bove opened the scoring with a great right-footed strike from the edge of the box. The second goal of the day arrived three minutes later: as he attempted to beat Esposito to the ball, Matteoni put into his own net after a shot from Ruggeri had hit the bar.

Nunziata made a half-time substitution, sending on Ambrosino for Gnonto (who, like Coppola, Bove, Ndour and Fabbian, was one booking away from suspension). After Amici had thwarted Raimondo, the Frosinone striker fired narrowly over. Italy scored their third goal on the 57-minute mark, with Pio Esposito finishing off a Bove free-kick. The Spezia attacker then bagged another in the 76th minute: he was the quickest to react after an attempt from Bove had hit the underside of the bar and bounced down onto the line. Two minutes later, Esposito completed his hat-trick from a Bianco assist. Zacchi and Pisilli came on for the closing stages, during which Raimondo converted a Ruggeri cross (81’) and Esposito netted his fourth on an unforgettable evening for him.

ITALY 7-0 SAN MARINO
GOALSCORERS: 35’ Bove (I); 38’ own goal Matteoni (S); 12’, 31’, 33’ and 90+1’ Esposito (I); 36’ Raimondo (I)

ITALY (4-3-1-2): Desplanches (79’ Zacchi); Savona, Coppola, Ghilardi, Ruggeri; Bove (79’ Pisilli), Bianco, Fazzini (14’ Ndour); Baldanzi (24’ Raimondo); Esposito, Gnonto (46’ Ambrosino). Subs: Zanotti, Pirola, Fabbian, Bonfanti. Head Coach: Nunziata

SAN MARINO (3-5-2): Amici; Guidi (46’ Cervellini), Matteoni, M. Sancisi (79’ S. Gasperoni); Giocondi, N. Sancisi (55’ Chiaruzzi), Tomassini, Toccaceli (46’ Casadei), Riccardi; M. Gasperoni (72’ Pasolini), Santi. Subs: Borasco, Ciacci, Giambalvo, Ciacci. Head Coach: Cecchetti

Referee: Radina (Czechia). Assistants: Hajek-Volf (Czechia). Fourth offical: Stary (Czechia)

Note: Riccardi (S), Giocondi (S), Ghilardi (I), Raimondo (I), Santi (S), Matteoni (S) booked

2025 UEFA EURO UNDER-21 QUALIFYING - GROUP A

Thursday 5 September
Latvia 0-1 Norway
ITALY 7-0 San Marino

Friday 6 September
18:45 CEST – Türkiye vs. Republic of Ireland

Tuesday 10 September
18:00 CEST – Republic of Ireland vs. Latvia
18:30 CEST – Norway vs. ITALY (Stavanger)
20:30 CEST – San Marino vs. Türkiye

Table (number of games played in brackets): ITALY (8) 18 points, Norway (7) 15, Republic of Ireland (6) 13, Latvia (7) and Türkiye (6) 7, San Marino (7) 0

ITALY’S NEXT FIXTURES
Tuesday 15 October: ​​Italy vs. Republic of Ireland