Finalists in both of the last two European championships at this age group, beaten on both occasions by the Netherlands, the National U17s leave for Luxembourg this afternoon, where they will face the hosts on Thursday at 19:00 CEST. The match will be played at the ‘Stade Municipal’ in Rumelange and will be their opening game of the first stage of the tournament.

After yesterday’s friendly against Empoli’s U17 side, (the Azzurrini winning 5-0 thanks to a brace from Bonetti and further goals from Rosa, Baldanzi and Degli Innocenti), Coach Daniela Zoratto has announced his 20-man squad for the tournament. Italy will play in Group 2, facing Northern Ireland on 27 October and Turkey on 30 October. The top two nations from each group will progress along with the best four third-placed sides.

The squad list

Goalkeepers: Tommaso Luci (Fiorentina), Gioele Zacchi (Sassuolo);

Defenders: Lorenzo Bernasconi (Cremonese), Ramen Cepele (Inter), Andrea Ceresoli (Atalanta), Filippo Fiumanò (Juventus), Gabriele Mulazzi (Juventus), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Mattia Zanotti (Inter);

Midfielders: Tommaso Baldanzi (Empoli), Federico Casolari (Sassuolo), Duccio Degli Innocenti (Empoli), Jacopo Fazzini (Empoli), Fabio Miretti (Juventus), Alessio Rossi (Empoli), Federico Zuccon (Atalanta);

Forwards: Andrea Bonetti (Juventus), Tommaso De Nipoti (Atalanta), Luca Magazzù (Inter), Alessio Rosa (Atalanta).

Staff – Head of Delegation: Filippo Corti; Coach: Daniele Zoratto; Assistant Coach: Massimiliano Favo; Head of Scouting: Mauro Sandreani; Secretary: Luca Gatto; Goalkeeping Coach: Davide Quironi; Fitness Coach: Mattia Modonutti; Doctors: Andrea Redler and Alessio Rossato; Physiotherapist: Enrico Matera; Tutors: Monica Tamburri and Michele Magni.

*The fixture list for Group 2

Matchday one (24 October)

Luxembourg vs. ITALY (19:00 CEST, Stade Municipal - Rumelange)

Northern Ireland vs. Turkey (19:00 CEST, Henri Dunant - Beggen)

Matchday two (27 October)

ITALY vs. Northern Ireland (19:00 CEST, Stade Municipal - Rumelange)

Luxembourg vs. Turkey (7 p.m., John Grun - Mondorf les Bains)

Matchday three (30 October)

ITALY vs. Turkey (19:00 CEST, John Grun - Mondorf les Bains)

Luxembourg vs. Northern Ireland (19:00 CEST, Henri Dunant - Beggen)

*The top two nations from each group will progress along with the best four third-placed sides.