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Ninety minutes to decide it all: top spot in the group, a place in the semi-finals, and qualification for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. Tomorrow (16:00 local time, 17:00 CEST, live on Rai Sport HD) at the Bangor City Stadium, Italy’s Under-19 side, coached by Alberto Bollini, face Ukraine in their final Group B match at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Wales.
The picture is clear, but nothing is settled yet. The Azzurrini trained this morning at the Penmaenmawr Phoenix FC ground and go into the decisive fixture second in the group on four points, after a 2-0 win over Serbia (29 June) and a 0-0 draw with Croatia (2 July), both in Caernarfon. Ukraine lead the group with a perfect record.
“We’ve come through two very demanding games, but I don’t want anyone to feel disappointed, when a team gives everything to win, there’s nothing to regret,” Bollini said on the ahead of the match to Vivo Azzurro TV (watch the full interview here) “Ukraine are a strong side and a well-established team. We’ll need to read the game well and show attacking courage. We won’t be playing for a draw, because this team knows what it means to play for everything. Tomorrow I want to see the right mentality, courage and team spirit.”
A victory would see Italy overtake Ukraine at the top of the group, securing a place in the semi-finals, marking a fourth consecutive appearance in the last four at the finals, following the record run of three straight semi-final qualifications in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and also book their place at the next U-20 World Cup.
A draw would also be enough to guarantee Italy second place on five points, sending the Azzurrini into the semi-finals and securing qualification for the 2027 U-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
Andrea Natali, the 2008-born defender from AZ Alkmaar, on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, stressed the importance of recovery after the goalless draw with Croatia: “We needed to regain our energy, both mentally and physically, and I think we did that in the best way possible. We’re a close-knit group and we get on well together. We want to get through the group and reach the semi-finals. We know there’s also a World Cup spot at stake, and we’ll give everything to achieve it.”
A defeat, under certain circumstances, could see Bollini’s side drop to third place. For that to happen, the Azzurrini would need to lose to Ukraine, while Croatia would also have to beat Serbia in the other Group B match, scheduled at The Oval in Caernarfon (16:00 local time, 17:00 CEST).
In addition, since the head-to-head between Italy and Croatia ended 0-0, Croatia would need to finish ahead on goal difference, or, if that is equal, on goals scored. If the two teams were still level in every respect (goal difference, goals scored and conceded), the final tie-breaker would be disciplinary record, with the team receiving fewer bookings ranking higher.
OPPONENT. Ukraine, coached by Dmytro Mikhailenko and European champions in 2009 on home soil, are making their seventh appearance at a continental finals, having previously competed in 2004, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2024.
In the first qualifying round, held in Albania from 12 to 18 November, Ukraine dominated Group 5, finishing with a perfect nine points ahead of Slovakia (4), Montenegro (3) and Albania (0). They went on to top their Elite Round group as well, held in Romania from 25 to 31 March, finishing first in Group 5 with seven points, ahead of Northern Ireland (4), Kazakhstan (3) and Romania (2).
Among their most promising talents is Empoli striker Bogdan Popov (born 2007), who has already made 22 appearances and scored five goals for the Tuscan club’s first team.
There have been seven previous meetings between Italy and Ukraine at this level, with the Azzurrini holding the edge with four wins, two defeats and one draw. The most recent encounter came on 21 July 2024, a 3-2 defeat for Bernardo Corradi’s side, now head coach of Sampdoria, in the final Group A match of the European Championship held in Northern Ireland two summers ago. On that occasion, Tommaso Ebone and Marco Romano scored for Italy, while Gennadiy Synchuk, Danylo Krevsun and Matviy Ponomarenko scored for Ukraine.
SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: 1. Tommaso Vannucchi (Cosenza), 22. Massimo Pessina (Bologna);
Defenders: 3. Matteo Cocchi (Inter), 4. Federico Nardin (Roma), 5. Andrea Natali (AZ Alkmaar), 6. Cristiano De Paoli (Como), 13. Francesco Verde (Juventus), 19. Mattia Marello (Inter), 21. Niccolò Rizzo (Juventus);
Midfielders: 7. Federico Coletta (Benfica), 8. Emanuele Sala (Milan), 10. Mattia Liberali (Catanzaro), 14. Christian Comotto (Spezia), 15. Samuel Wiafe (Modena), 16. Matteo Mantini (Grasshopper);
Forwards: 2. Javison Osarumwense Idele (Atalanta), 9. Jamal Iddrissou (Inter), 11. Mattia Mosconi (Inter), 17. Destiny Onoguekhan Elimoghale (Juventus), 20. Antonio Arena (Roma).
Staff – Head Coach: Alberto Bollini; Head of delegation: Gianfranco Serioli; National Youth Team Coordinator: Maurizio Viscidi; Assistant Coach: Christian Maggio; Goalkeeping Coach: Graziano Vinti; Fitness Coach: Nicolò Varesco; Match analyst: Luca Dalmasso; Doctors: Andrea De Fazio and Francesco Maria Nifosì; Nutritionist: Dennis Dell’Unto; Physiotherapists: Giuseppe Galli and Simone Siciliano; Club Italia Scout: Alessandro Musicco; Administration, Finance and Control Office: Antonio Martuscelli; Press Office: Alessandro Paoli; Secretary: Aldo Blessich.
UEFA European Under-19 Championship Wales 2026 | Final phase
Group stage (28 June - 5 July)
Group A: Wales, Denmark, Germany, Spain
Group B: Croatia, Serbia, ITALY, Ukraine
Matchday 1
Sunday 28 June
Wales 0-7 Spain
Germany 4-3 Denmark
Monday 29 June
Italy 2-0 Serbia
Croatia 1-3 Ukraine
Matchday 2
Wednesday 1 July
Denmark 0-3 Spain
Wales 0-4 Germany
Thursday 2 July
Croatia 0-0 ITALY
Serbia 1-2 Ukraine
Group B Standings: Ukraine* 6, ITALY 4, Croatia 1, Serbia 0.
*qualified for semifinals with one game in hand.
Matchday 3
Saturday 4 July
Denmark 3-0 Wales
Spain 4-0 Germany
Gruppo A Standings: Spain 9, Germany 6, Denmark 3, Wales 0.
Sunday 5 July
17.00: Ukraine vs. ITALY, Bangor City Stadium, Bangor
17.00: Serbia vs. Croatia, The Oval in Caernarfon
Knockout stage (8-11 July)
FIFA U-20 World Cup Azerbaijan–Uzbekistan 2027 play-off (Wednesday 8 July)
15.00: Denmark vs. 3rd place Group B, Bangor City Stadium, Bangor
Semifinals (Wednesday 8 July)
S1*) 17.30: Spain vs. 2nd place Group B, Central Park, Denbigh
S2*) 20.00: Winner Group B vs. Germany, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
*venues and kick-off times subject to change after the group stage
Final (Saturday 11 July)
20.00: Winner S1 vs. Winner S2, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Note: All times shown in CEST