Mission accomplished for Italy's Under-17 National Team. A 3-3 draw against Denmark at the Kalevi Central Stadium in Tallinn on the third and final matchday of Group B sees the Azzurrini finish top of the group with seven points and book their place in the semi-finals of the tournament, which is taking place in Estonia until 7 June.

After falling behind in the 14th minute through Bodø/Glimt forward Mikkel Bro Hansen, Italy equalised through Empoli midfielder Edoardo Biondini in the 24th minute. The Azzurrini then turned the match around before half-time with goals from defenders Lorenzo Dattilo of Roma and Andrea Donato of Inter in the 42nd and 45th minutes respectively.

Denmark pulled one back in the second half through Brøndby forward Tobias Baden Ekstrand in the 58th minute before Kerim Sejdić of Vejle scored the equaliser in the first minute of stoppage time.

Head coach Daniele Franceschini commented, “I’m proud of the boys and of their journey. Finishing among the top four teams in Europe is not easy nor something to be taken for granted. Since the start of the year, the players have improved hugely and have grown with every match. Today wasn’t one of our best performances because we didn’t control the game or win the ball back as we usually do. We could have done better. In the semi-finals, we must play even better.”

Italy’s impressive group-stage campaign, consisting of two wins and a draw from three matches, seven goals scored, and three conceded, earns them a semi-final showdown with Spain on Thursday, 4 June.

“We know Spain well because we faced them in friendlies a few months ago,” Franceschini added. “In my opinion, they are one of the strongest teams in this age group, with very talented players. We need to approach the match aware that it is a semi-final, but with a free mind, playing the way we want and enjoying the opportunity.”

For the first time in Under-17 history, Italy have reached the European Championship semi-finals in three consecutive editions (2024, 2025, and 2026). Overall, it is their eighth semi-final appearance in 14 participations.

MATCH REPORT

Italy lined up in their well-established 4-3-1-2 formation, the same system that had led to the 3-0 win over Montenegro in their previous match. Head coach Daniele Franceschini made four changes to the starting XI: Albini replaced Bonifazi in defence, with Dattilo moving to right-back; Gasparello came in for Okon-Engstler, while Ballarin took on the role of deep-lying playmaker; and Landi and Fugazzola replaced Corigliano and Croci in attack.

Denmark lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, making five changes from the side that had lost 4-0 to France at the Kadriorg Stadium on Friday. Stojanović and Poulsen replaced Tuxen and Pedersen, with Madsen moving into central defence. Jørgensen came into midfield for Bastrup, while Manata and the 2010-born Ekstrand replaced Sejdić and Khatar in attack. Ekstrand had already found the net against Italy in April during the first of two Under-16 friendlies between the two nations in Viareggio (Italy 4-4 Denmark, 21 April).

The Azzurrini threatened early and nearly took the lead after just two minutes, with Fugazzola latching onto Perillo's pass before sending a close-range effort narrowly wide. Denmark threatened in the 13th minute with a long-range effort from Jørgensen that forced Lupo into action, and the Danish side took the lead a minute later. Following a corner kick, Hansen reacted quickest in a crowded penalty area to bundle the ball home for 1-0. Italy remained composed and deservedly equalised in the 24th minute. After Denmark failed to fully clear another corner, Biondini unleashed a right-footed volley from near the penalty spot that flew past Medina into the left corner. Spurred on by the goal, the Azzurrini continued to press forward and completed the comeback in the 42nd minute. Gasparello delivered a cross into the box, and Dattilo headed home from close range to make it 2-1. Franceschini’s side were now firmly on top and struck again three minutes later. Fugazzola swung in a corner from the left, and Donato powered a header beyond the Danish goalkeeper to extend Italy’s lead to 3-1. After two minutes of stoppage time, Italy went into the break with a two-goal advantage following an impressive comeback.

The second half began with substitutions on both sides and a much more aggressive Denmark. After substitute Broberg tested Lupo from distance, the Danes pulled a goal back in the 58th minute. Ekstrand received a pass from Manata inside the area and drilled a low right-footed shot into the far corner. Italy responded well and almost restored their two-goal lead in the 63rd minute. Casagrande, who had come on at half-time for Perillo, sent in a sensational left-footed effort from 25 metres that crashed against the post. In the first minute of the five added by the referee (90'+1), Denmark completed their comeback. Sejdić, who had come on just two minutes earlier, rose highest to head home and beat Italy goalkeeper Lupo, making it 3-3. The equaliser was not enough to save Denmark from elimination, but it somewhat dampened the celebrations for Franceschini’s side, who, based on the balance of play, had done enough to deserve a perfect group-stage record.

 

DENMARK 3-3 ITALY (1-3 HT)

Denmark (4-3-3)

Medina; Stojanović, Madsen (89' Sejdić), Sommer, Poulsen (46' Pedersen); Vestergaard, Nasnas, Jørgensen (46' Broberg); Manata (62' Khatar), Hansen (capt.), Ekstrand (81' Bastrup). Substitutes: Bertelsen (GK), Nicolaisen, Villumsen. Head Coach: Morten Corlin.

Italy (4-3-1-2)

Lupo; Dattilo, Donato, Varali (55' Puricelli), Albini; Biondini (capt.) (66' Rocca), Ballarin, Gasparello; Landi (81' Corigliano); Fugazzola (46' Croci), Perillo (46' Casagrande). Substitutes: Giaretta (GK), Bonifazi, Diallo, Okon-Engstler. Head Coach: Daniele Franceschini.

 

Referee: Oguzhan Çakir (Turkey), Assistant Referees: Furkan Ürün (Turkey), Ruslan Serazitdinov (Uzbekistan), Fourth Official: Asker Nadjafaliev (Uzbekistan)

Goals: Hansen 14' (DEN), Biondini 24' (ITA), Dattilo 42' (ITA), Donato 45' (ITA), Ekstrand 58' (DEN), Sejdić 90'+1 (DEN)

Bookings: Biondini 40' (ITA), Ballarin 50' (ITA), Broberg 75' (DEN)

Added Time: 2 minutes first half, 5 minutes second half.

 

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Emanuele Giaretta (Juventus), Christian Lupo (Lecce).
Defenders: Giampaolo Bonifazi (Roma), Matteo Albini (Como), Djibril Diallo (Parma), Ludovico Varali (Parma), Andrea Donato (Inter), Lorenzo Dattilo (Roma), Lorenzo Puricelli (Inter), Edoardo Dario Rocca (Inter).
Midfielders: Edoardo Biondini (Empoli), Gianluca Tommaso Okon-Engstler (Club Brugge), Francesco Ballarin (Venezia), Francesco Gasparello (Atalanta).
Forwards: Jacopo Landi (Empoli), Diego Perillo (Empoli), Thomas Corigliano (Juventus), Marcello Fugazzola (Atalanta), Tommaso Casagrande (Hellas Verona), 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, Giorgio Liberati Petrucci, Physiotherapists: Aldo Abbadia, Saverio Didonato, Nutritionist: Claudio Pecorella, Education Tutor: Fabrizio Scarpelli, Club Italia Scout: Claudio Gabetta, Administration, Finance and Control: Andrea Ottaviani, Press Officer: Alessandro Paoli, Team Secretary: Guglielmo Cammino.

 

UEFA European Under-17 Championship Estonia 2026 | Final Stage

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

Group A standings:

Belgium 6 (+1), Spain 6 (0), Croatia 6 (-1), Estonia 0

*qualified for the semi-finals thanks to superior goal difference in the head-to-head standings.

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

Group B standings:

ITALY 7, France 6, Denmark 4, Montenegro 0

Knockout Stage (4–7 June)

Semi-finals (Thursday 4 June)

S1)* Belgium vs France – 13:30, Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn
S2)* ITALY vs Spain – 19:00, Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn

Final (Sunday 7 June)

Winner S1 vs Winner S2 – 19:00, Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn

NB: All times are in CEST (Central European Summer Time).