MILAN – Italy’s Under 17 team, coached by Daniele Zoratto, will take on shades of blue and black as they depart this afternoon for Slovakia for the finals of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship (from 5 to 17 May).
After yesterday’s friendly against Fiorentina’s Allievi Nazionali team (6-0 with a brace from both Palazzi and Di Molfetta and one goal each from Parigini and Steffé), coach Zoratto officially announced his 18-man squad. Listed among the others were the six Nerazzurri youngsters who had been participating in the camp: defenders Giacomo Sciacca, Federico Dimarco and Matteo Lomolino; midfielders Demetrio Steffè and Andrea Palazzi; forward Federico Bonazzoli.
With six players, Inter is the team that boasts the highest presence on the squad, followed by AC Milan (2) and Roma (2), then one each for Atalanta, Chievo, Empoli, Juventus, Parma, Napoli, Torino and Udinese. Further proof of the excellent work done by Salvatore Cerrone with his Allievi Nazionali, who finished the season in first place overall without losing a single match.
The tournament for Italy will open on Sunday 5 May at 17:30 against Croatia in Nitra. The following match will take place on Wednesday 8 May against Ukraine, before the final group game on Saturday 11 May against Russia. The top two teams will then play in the semi-finals on 14 May in Zilina, the city that will host the final three days later. Also up for grabs are places in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, with the top three teams in each group automatically qualifying for the tournament to be held in the United Arab Emirates from 17 October to 8 November.
Italy’s full squad for the finals of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship:
Goalkeepers: Emil Audero (Juventus), Simone Scuffet (Udinese);
Defenders: Arturo Calabresi (Roma), Davide Calabria (AC Milan), Elio Capradossi (Roma), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Matteo Vito Lomolino (Inter), Giacomo Sciacca (Inter).
Midfielders: Andrea Palazzi (Inter), Vittorio Parigini (Torino), Alessandro Piu (Empoli), Mario Pugliese (Atalanta), Demetrio Steffé (Inter), Alberto Tibolla (Chievo Verona), Gennaro Tutino (Napoli);
Forwards: Federico Bonazzoli (Inter), Alberto Cerri (Parma), Luca Vido (AC Milan).
