The Italy Under-15 national team got their campaign in the 22nd edition of the Tournament of Nations off to a spectacular start, beating Wales 3–0 at the ‘Gino Colaussi’ municipal stadium in Gradisca d’Isonzo, in Gorizia. This result secures them three points and places them top of the group after the opening round, thanks to a superior goal difference (+3), alongside North Macedonia, who also won 3–0 against Moldova in Aquileia, Udine.

The Azzurrini, defending champions, opened the scoring in the 22nd minute through Fiorentina midfielder Abdel Salam Musah, before doubling their lead four minutes later thanks to the Atalanta defender Mirko Danza. In the second half, Enrico Battisti’s side hit the post in the 62nd minute through Parma forward Mark Chidozie Cordopatri, before sealing the win in the 70th minute with a goal from Genoa midfielder Davide Tilli, who had come on in the 51st minute for Musah.

The coach commented, “We played well, creating plenty of chances. Clearly, in a tournament structured like this, scoring a few more goals would have been better. And I think it would have been deserved as well.”

The Azzurrini return to action on Monday at 18:00 CEST, again in Gradisca d’Isonzo, against China, who lost 2-1 earlier today at 17:00 CEST, to Slovenia in Nova Gorica, with goals from Noel Zvegla (Radomlje) and Emin Mesanovic (Olimpija Ljubljana). Battisti noted, “Tomorrow, we’ll assess the players’ condition. Based on what we see, we’ll decide whether and how to make changes. We have four matches, so we need to manage our energy carefully while staying balanced.”

MATCH REPORT
Italy lined up in a 4-3-1-2, with Cordopatri and Diofebo up front and Lima Ramalho behind them. Wales responded with a 4-2-3-1, with Al Shameri, Jeremy, and Liversage supporting lone striker Eley. After settling into the game, Italy created the first chance through Musah, whose right-footed effort from Lima Ramalho’s pass went wide in the 16th minute. Battisti’s side stayed dominant in possession and took a well-deserved lead when Musah reacted to a loose ball at the edge of the box and fired home with his right foot in the 22nd minute. Spurred on by the goal, Italy pushed on and doubled their advantage in the 26th minute through Danza, whose left-footed strike from distance nestled into the corner beyond the goalkeeper. The first half ended 2–0 to the Azzurrini.

The second half featured several substitutions from both sides, with Italy continuing to threaten through Mirabella, who fired over from distance in the 40th minute. Two minutes later, Lima Ramalho tested the Welsh goalkeeper with a right-footed effort following a Cordopatri assist, but it was pushed out for a corner. In the 48th minute, Cordopatri came close again with a header from a Chieffallo cross, but failed to hit the target.

Italy kept pressing and, after Cordopatri struck the post from a corner, they sealed the win in the final stages: Tilli, who came on in place of Musah in the 51st minute, produced a delicate lob from the right in the 70th minute to beat the Welsh goalkeeper. After four minutes of added time, the match ended 3–0 to Italy, who move top of the table on three points with the best goal difference after the opening round.

 

Tournament of Nations

League phase (25–29 April): Austria, Czechia, China, Wales, ITALY, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia

Matchday 1 (Saturday 25 April)
13:00: Austria 2-2 Romania
15:30: Scotland 2-1 Montenegro
17:00: Portugal 2-2 Czechia
17:00: Slovenia 2-1 China
18:00: ITALY 3-0 Wales
18:00: Moldova 0-3 North Macedonia

Standings: ITALY 3 (+3), North Macedonia 3 (+3), Scotland 3 (+1), Slovenia 3 (+1), Austria 1, Czechia 1, Portugal 1, Romania 1, China 0 (−1), Montenegro 0 (−1), Wales 0 (−3), Moldova 0 (−3)

Matchday 2 (Monday 27 April)
13:00: Czechia vs Austria, Arnoldstein (Austria)
15:30: Montenegro vs Moldova, Portogruaro (Italy)
17:00: Romania vs Portugal, Arnoldstein (Austria)
17:00: Slovenia vs Scotland, Tolmin (Slovenia)
18:00: China vs ITALY, Gradisca d’Isonzo (Italy)
18:00: North Macedonia vs Wales, Lignano Sabbiadoro (Italy)

Matchday 3 (Wednesday 29 April)
11:00: Scotland vs North Macedonia, Lignano Sabbiadoro (Italy)
13:00: Austria vs China, Hermagor-Pressegger See (Austria)
15:30: Moldova vs Czechia, Portogruaro (Italy)
17:00: Wales vs Slovenia, Ajdovščina (Slovenia)
17:00: Portugal vs Montenegro, Hermagor-Pressegger See (Austria)
18:00: ITALY vs Romania, Cervignano del Friuli (Italy)

Knockout phase

Finals (Friday 1 May)

11th place
11:00: 11th vs 12th (from league phase)

9th place
11:00: 9th vs 10th

7th place
11:00: 7th vs 8th

5th place
11:00: 5th vs 6th

3rd place
11:00: 3rd vs 4th

1st place
18:00: 1st vs 2nd, Gradisca d’Isonzo (Italy)

NB: Venues for the finals from 11th to 3rd place will be confirmed after the league phase.