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Italy Under-19s suffered a bitter 1-0 defeat to Ukraine at Bangor City Stadium, with Alberto Bollini's side overtaken by Croatia, who beat Serbia 3-0 at The Oval in Caernarfon with goals from Lovro Chelfi (9'), Noa Godec (70') and Patrice Čović from the penalty spot (87'), to finish third in Group B at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship finals in Wales. The decisive moment came in the 30th minute, when Bayern Munich attacking midfielder Bogdan Olychenko found the net.
With both Italy and Croatia ending the group stage on a goal difference of +1 following Thursday's goalless head-to-head draw, the Azzurrini missed out on a place in the semi-finals on goals scored (two to Croatia's four). However, their hopes of reaching the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup remain alive. On Wednesday 8 July (14:00 local time, 15:00 CEST), Italy will return to Bangor to face Denmark, who finished third in Group A behind Spain (9 points) and Germany (6), in the play-off for a place at the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
"The team approached the game in exactly the right way," said Bollini. "We controlled possession and created plenty of goalscoring opportunities. With 13 corners, a shot against the crossbar and the chances we produced, I believe we deserved a different outcome. It's disappointing to lose after a performance like that, especially for these players, who have worked so hard over the past year and deserved more. We have to accept the result, even though it's an extremely bitter defeat. When you create that much and can't find the net, it's very difficult to put it into words."
MATCH REPORT. Italy lined up in their usual 4-3-3 formation, with three changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Croatia on Thursday in Caernarfon. Marello replaced Cocchi at left-back, Mantini came into midfield in place of Liberali, while 2009-born Elimoghale started in attack instead of Mosconi. Ukraine once again deployed a 4-2-3-1 system, making four changes from the team that beat Serbia 3-1 in Bangor three days earlier, with Kokodyniak, Dihtiar and Malov in defence, and Soroka in midfield.
The Azzurrini started brightly and almost took the lead inside two minutes, when Elimoghale came close from 20 metres, narrowly missing the target. Italy then went even closer in the 16th minute, as Marello struck a stunning left-footed free-kick from 25 metres that crashed off the crossbar. Ukraine responded in the 21st minute through Liusin, whose right-footed effort was comfortably dealt with by the alert Italy No.22. Bollini’s side remained in control and created further chances, first again through Elimoghale in the 22nd minute and then via Iddrissou in the 28th, but neither attempt found the breakthrough. Against the run of play Ukraine took the lead: Olychenko cut in from the left, beat a couple of defenders and curled a superb right-footed effort into the top corner, leaving Pessina with no chance. Despite going behind, Italy did not lose their composure and continued to push forward, coming close through Verde, whose close-range effort was saved by Marchenko in the 35th minute, before Wiafe saw a low drive from the edge of the box deflected behind for a corner in the 36th. After one minute of added time, the teams went into the break with Ukraine leading 1-0.
In the second half, Italy resumed with momentum and went close to equalising in the 57th minute through a Nardin right-footed effort, which was blocked inside the box by the Ukrainian defence. Two minutes later, Iddrissou narrowly missed the target with a header that drifted just wide to the right, following a suspected foul by Marchenko on the Italy No.9. Bollini’s side continued to press in search of an equaliser and created another big chance in the 79th minute, when substitute Mosconi pounced on a loose ball and fired into the side netting with his right foot. Barely a minute later, Italy came even closer through Coletta, who reacted first to the Ukrainian goalkeeper’s save from a Natali long-range effort and struck goalwards from close range, only to be denied by a superb stop from the No.12. In the closing stages, the Azzurrini pushed again through 2009-born Arena, who had come on for Elimoghale in the 68th minute, and Marello, but neither a close-range header in the 87th minute nor a late free-kick from the edge of the box in the 90th minute were enough to break through the Ukrainian defence. After four minutes of added time, the final whistle confirmed Ukraine’s victory. Combined with Croatia’s 3-0 win over Serbia in the other group match in Caernarfon, Italy were left in third place, bringing their European Championship campaign to an end at the group stage despite an excellent and ultimately unfortunate performance.
UKRAINE 1-0 ITALY (1-0)
Ukraine (4-2-3-1): Marchenko; Kokodyniak, Sherstiuk, Dihtiar ©, Malov; Soroka, Plish (46' Ihnatkov); Hubenko (46' Hlyut), Olychenko (61' Sykut), Liusin (46' Kaliuzhnyi); Popov (82' Bohdanov). Subs.: Domchak (P), Kamenskyi, Mylokost, Strilchuk. Coach: Dmytro Mikhailenko.
Italy (4-3-3): Pessina; Nardin (90'+2 Comotto), Natali, Verde, Marello; Wiafe, Sala ©, Mantini (46' Mosconi); Coletta (90'+2 Idele), Iddrissou, Elimoghale (68' Arena). Subs.: Vannucchi (P), Cocchi, De Paoli, Liberali, Rizzo. Coach: Alberto Bollini.
Referee: Bence Csonka (HUN). Assistant referees: Balázs Szert (HUN) e Elshad Abdullayev (AZE). Fourth official: Aaron Wyn Jones (WAL).
Goalscorer: 30’ Olychenko (UKR).
Notes: Sherstiuk (UKR) booked in the 34’, Liusin (UKR) in the 35’ and Coletta (ITA) in the 83’. Added time 1’, 4’
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
Group A Standings: Spain 9, Germany 6, Denmark 3, Wales 0.
Sunday 5 July
Ukraine 1-0 ITALY
Serbia 0-3 Croatia
Group B Standings: Ukraine 9, Croatia 4 (+1, 4), ITALY 4 (+1, 2), Serbia 0.
Knockout stage (8-11 July)
FIFA U-20 World Cup Azerbaijan–Uzbekistan 2027 play-off (Wednesday 8 July)
15.00: Denmark vs. ITALY, Bangor City Stadium, Bangor
Semifinals (Wednesday 8 July)
S1*) 17.30: Spain vs. Croatia, Central Park, Denbigh
S2*) 20.00: Ukraine 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