As the reigning European champions, the Italy Under-17 team is gearing up for a significant challenge in the European qualifiers as they prepare to kick off their campaign in Group A1 against Slovakia this afternoon.
The match is set to take place at 3:30 PM local time at the ‘Sveti Josip Radnik’ stadium in Sesvete, Croatia. Under the guidance of head coach Massimiliano Favo, the team aims to prove that their previous success was no fluke.
Italy showcased their dominance in the first phase of the qualifiers, finishing with three consecutive victories and a stunning goal tally of 16 scored while not conceding a single goal. They triumphed over San Marino (5-0), Wales (4-0), and Norway (7-0), signaling their intention to make a mark in these upcoming matches.
“As the reigning champions, it definitely feels good, but this is a new season with different players,” Favo pointed out, emphasizing the need for the squad to reset and build another successful chapter.
Alongside Slovakia, Italy will face Ukraine on March 22 at noon and conclude the group stage against the hosts, Croatia, on March 25 at 3:30 PM at the NK Lučko field. The top team from this group will advance to the final phase of the European Championship, which will be hosted in Albania from May 19 to June 1, while the best four second-placed teams will qualify for the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar later this year.
The qualification begins amidst a challenging backdrop. The current year started with Italy suffering defeats in friendly matches against Spain and France—two losses to Spain (2-0 and 2-1) and two to France (2-0 and 4-0). “We need to find the spirit that has always characterized us,” says Favo, who recognizes the tough road ahead.
In a bold move, Favo has included younger talents in the squad, featuring Antonio Arena from Pescara, who recently made headlines as the youngest goalscorer in professional Italian football history. Destiny Onoguekhan Elimoghale from Juventus is another exciting inclusion, who has impressed in his club’s Under-17 squad with three goals in six appearances.
“We are Italy, so we have the obligation to advance and do so convincingly. The pressure is on the other teams, not us,” Favo asserted firmly, hinting at his squad's readiness to reclaim prominence on the European stage.
The match against Slovakia is expected to be closely contested since the Slovakian side is also keen to make an impact. Italy's history in youth competitions has seldom lacked intensity, further enhancing the anticipation for today's kickoff.
After the match against Slovakia, the Azzurrini will focus on their next games, with the encounter against Ukraine on Saturday promising to challenge their mettle further.
The final match against Croatia will undoubtedly add to the excitement, especially given that the host nation will have home advantage, elevating the stakes for Italy's young squad.
With 270 minutes of football ahead and a single goal in mind—to secure a place at the final tournament in Albania—Italy is ready to take the field, embodying the spirit of champions and aiming to overcome the challenges ahead with resilience and determination.
