The Italy Under-17 side are determined to keep dreaming as they prepare to return to action tomorrow, Thursday 4 June (19:00 CEST), when they take on Spain at Tallinn's Lilleküla Stadium in the semi-finals of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship, which is being held in Estonia until 7 June.

The Azzurrini have enjoyed an impressive run to the last four. Daniele Franceschini's side finished top of Group B with seven points (the best record of the entire group stage) having scored seven goals and conceded three. Following a 1-0 victory over France in their opening match, Italy secured a convincing 3-0 win against Montenegro before playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Denmark. All three matches were held at the Kalevi Central Stadium.

“I've told the lads not to think about the opposition,” said the Italy coach. “That's what I always do. Spain are undoubtedly a strong side with great quality and several outstanding individuals, but we need to focus on ourselves and on the journey we've been on so far.

“I'd like to see a team playing with freedom and without pressure,” he continued, “a side capable of enjoying an important moment in its development such as a European semi-final. Alongside the tactical aspect, which we have worked on in every detail with the staff, the mental approach we bring into the match will also be crucial. I'm convinced the lads will be able to express themselves to the best of their abilities.”

THE OPPOSITION. Spain, coached by Sergio García, have once again confirmed their status as one of the leading forces in European youth football. La Roja have won three Under-17 European titles (2007, 2008 and 2017) and reached seven finals in total (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2017) across 16 appearances in the competition.

Spain reached the final tournament after finishing top of Group 4 in the first qualifying round, played on home soil from 8 to 14 October, with nine points ahead of Denmark (6), Latvia (3) and Andorra (0). In the second round, held in Northern Ireland from 15 to 21 March, Sergio García's side again finished first, topping Group A6 with seven points ahead of Scotland (6), Türkiye (4) and the hosts Northern Ireland (0).

In the final tournament, Spain finished second in Group A on six points, level with Belgium, who topped the group thanks to a superior goal difference (+1), and Croatia, who finished third with an inferior goal difference (-1). Hosts Estonia ended bottom on zero points.

Among Spain's ranks, Ebrima Tunkara stands out. The Barcelona midfielder, born in 2010, has been the driving force behind La Roja, recording five goals and six assists in nine appearances across the first qualifying round (three goals and one assist in three matches), the second qualifying round (one goal and one assist in three matches) and the final tournament (one goal and four assists in three matches).

Alongside Tunkara, Sergio García can also rely on Enzo Alves, the Real Madrid forward born in 2009 and son of former Brazil international Marcelo. Alves has scored four goals in nine appearances, including two at the final tournament: the first in Spain's opening 4-1 win over Estonia at the Lilleküla Stadium on 25 May, and the second in Spain's 3-2 defeat to Croatia on 31 May.

Alves, together with goalkeeper Guille Ponce and midfielder Cherif Fofana, his teammates at both Real Madrid and Spain, won the latest UEFA Youth League title by defeating Club Brugge in the final at the Stade de la Tuilière in Lausanne (1-1 after regulation time, 5-3 on penalties, 20 April). Italy midfielder Gianluca Tommaso Okon-Engstler, son of former Fiorentina and Lazio player and coach Paul, featured for the Belgian side.

Italy and Spain have met 25 times at Under-17 level. Spain have won 16 of those encounters, while Italy have recorded four victories, with five matches ending in draws. The first meeting took place on 7 May 2003 during the UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals in Portugal. Spain won 2-0 at the Complexo Desportivo do Monte da Forca in Vila Real thanks to goals from José María Cases Hernández and Xisco Nadal on Matchday 1 of Group B.

The most recent meeting came on 22 January this year at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas. In the second of two scheduled friendlies, Spain defeated Italy 3-0 through goals from Byron Mendoza, Ian Mencía and Christian Imga.

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: 1. Emanuele Giaretta (Juventus), 12. Christian Lupo (Lecce);

Defenders: 2. Giampaolo Bonifazi (Roma), 3. Matteo Albini (Como), 4. Djibril Diallo (Parma), 5. Ludovico Varali (Parma), 6. Andrea Donato (Inter), 13. Lorenzo Dattilo (Roma), 14. Lorenzo Puricelli (Inter), 20. Edoardo Dario Rocca (Inter);

Midfielders: 8. Edoardo Biondini (Empoli), 15. Gianluca Tommaso Okon-Engstler (Club Brugge), 16. Francesco Ballarin (Venezia), 17. Francesco Gasparello (Atalanta);

Forwards: 7. Jacopo Landi (Empoli), 9. Diego Perillo (Empoli), 10. Thomas Corigliano (Juventus), 11. Marcello Fugazzola (Atalanta), 19. Tommaso Casagrande (Hellas Verona), 21. Federico Croci (Fiorentina).

Staff – Head Coach: Daniele Franceschini; Head of Delegation: Filippo Corti; Deputy Coordinator of Youth National Teams: Daniele Zoratto; Assistant Coach: Marco Scarpa; Goalkeeping Coach: Francesco Antonioli; Fitness Coach: Roberto Ghielmetti; Match Analyst: Francesco Donzella; Team Doctors: Francesco Cuccaro and Giorgio Liberati Petrucci; Physiotherapists: Aldo Abbadia and Saverio Didonato; Nutritionist: Claudio Pecorella; Education Tutor: Fabrizio Scarpelli; Club Italia Scout: Claudio Gabetta; Administration, Finance and Control Department: Andrea Ottaviani; Press Officer: Alessandro Paoli; Team Secretary: Guglielmo Cammino.

UEFA European Under-17 Championship Estonia 2026 | Final Tournament

Group Stage (25 May–1 June)

Group A: Estonia, Belgium, Croatia, Spain
Group B: Montenegro, France, ITALY, Denmark

Matchday 1

Monday 25 May
Croatia 0-2 Belgium
Estonia 1-4 Spain

Tuesday 26 May
ITALY 1-0 France
Montenegro 1-2 Denmark

Matchday 2

Thursday 28 May
Belgium 0-1 Spain
Estonia 1-3 Croatia

Friday 29 May
Montenegro 0-3 ITALY
France 4-0 Denmark

Matchday 3

Sunday 31 May
Belgium 1-0 Estonia
Spain 2-3 Croatia 

Monday 1 June
France 5-0 Montenegro
Denmark 3-3 ITALY

Group A standings: Belgium 6 (+1), Spain 6 (0), Croatia 6 (-1), Estonia 0.
Group B standings: ITALY 7, France 6, Denmark 4, Montenegro 0.

*Qualified for the semi-finals thanks to a superior goal difference in the mini-table.

Knockout Stage (4–7 June)

Semi-finals (Thursday 4 June)

SF1) 13:30 CEST: Belgium vs. France, Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn
SF2) 19:00 CEST: ITALY vs. Spain, Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn

Final (Sunday 7 June)

7pm CET: Winner SF1 vs. Winner SF2, Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn

All kick-off times are listed in CEST (Central European Summer Time).