The Under-20 National Team gathered at the Centro di Preparazione Olimpica in Tirrenia today ahead of the World Cup, which is set to take place from 23 May until 15 June in Poland. There are 17 players involved, and they will remain together until Friday. The reduced number of Azzurrini is down to the fact that some players have remained at their clubs for the final games of the season. Head Coach Paolo Nicolato will disclose to FIFA the 21 players who have made the World Cup squad today before midnight.

Italy, who qualified for the World Cup after finishing runners-up last year in the Under-19 European Championship, will play their first match of the tournament on Thursday 23 May against Mexico in Gdynia before games against Ecuador on Sunday 26 May and Japan on Wednesday 29 May will follow in Group B. Both of these matches will take place in Bydgoszcz. Italy last took part in the World Cup two years ago, when Alberico Evani’s side finished in third place in South Korea – their best-ever finish in the competition.

The list of players involved in the get-together in Tirrenia

Goalkeepers: Alessandro Plizzari (Milan), Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Leonardo Loria (Juventus);

Defenders: Alessandro Buongiorno (Carpi), Alessandro Tripaldelli (Crotone), Luca Ranieri (Foggia), Matteo Gabbia (Lucchese), Raoul Bellanova (Milan), Antonio Candela (Genoa);

Midfielders: Davide Frattesi (Ascoli), Domenico Roberto Alberico (Hoffenheim);

Forwards: Gabriele Gori (Livorno), Marco Olivieri (Juventus), Gianluca Scamacca (Sassuolo), Andrea Pinamonti (Frosinone), Eddie Anthony Salcedo Mora (Inter), Christian Capone (Pescara).

Staff – Head Coach: Paolo Nicolato; Assistant Coach: Mirco Gasparetto; Secretary: Fabio Ferappi; Fitness Coach: Vincenzo Pincolini; Goalkeeper Coach: Matteo Mareggini; Match Analyst: Francesco Bordin; Doctors: Matteo Vitali and Luca Labianca; Physiotherapists: Nicola Sanna and Andrea Mangino; Nutritionist: Alessio Colli.