The Under 21 National Team got off to a good start with a 1-0 win against Romania at the Anton Malatinského Stadium in Trnava. Tommaso Baldanzi's strike in the 26th minute sealed the win. The Azzurrini went close to doubling their lead just before the break through Koleosho, who hit the post. There was a brief moment of worry in added time of the first half as Romania were awarded a penalty. However, Sebastiano Desplanches pulled off a brilliant save to deny Louis Munteanu. A hard-fought but deserved win which puts Carmine Nunziata's side top of the group, level on points win Spain, who beat Slovakia 3-2 in the earlier game. 

The head coach explained: "It was really important to start well. Winning the first group game was fundamental. It wasn't easy because we were up against a very organised side with important values. I want to give kudos to the lads, because they hadn't played a full match for two weeks before tonight. Desplanches did brilliantly with the penalty, but we had a number of chances and could've killed it off earlier". 

ITALY 1-0 ROMANIA 

ITALY (4-3-2-1): Desplanches; Zanotti (86’ Kayode), Ghilardi, Pirola ©, Ruggeri; Fabbian, Prati, Ndour; Baldanzi (86’ Pisilli), Koleosho (63’ Ambrosino); Gnonto (63’ Casadei). Unused subs: Zacchi (P), Sassi (P), Coppola, Turicchia, Doumbia, Guarino, Fazzini, Bianco. Coach.: Carmine Nunziata.

ROMANIA (4-3-3): Sava; Strata (61’ Sîrbu), Ignat (46’ Perianu), Ilie M., Borza; Corbu (46’ Popescu), Akdağ, Grameni (86’ Mitrov); Stoica (61’ Burnete), Munteanu ©, Ilie R. Unused subs.: Hindrich (P), Rafailă (P), Amzăr, Duţu, Vulturar, Mihai. Coach: Răzvan Rotaru (in sostituzione dello squalificato Daniel Pancu).

Referee: Vassilis Fotias (GRE). Assistants: Andreas Meintanas (GRE) e Michail Papadakis (GRE). VAR: Angelos Evangelou (GRE). Assistant VAR: Bastien Dechepy (FRA). Fourth official: Igor Stojchevski (MKD).

Scorers: 26’ Baldanzi.

Notes: booked; Munteanu (ROU) 20’, Grameni (ROU) 47’, Fabbian (ITA) 90’. Stoppage time: 1’, 3’.