PHOTO
Italy U15 suffered a heavy 7-0 defeat against Mexico, whose players are a year older, at Pitch 1B of the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku. The match was the semi-final of the 9th-12th place play-offs in Level A of the tournament phase of the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival, which runs until tomorrow in Azerbaijan.
The Azzurrini conceded the opening goal after just one minute, scored by Chivas winger Marcelo Villareal González. They then fell further behind before half-time, with Kansas City attacking midfielder Zamir Loyo Reynaga and América midfielder Xavier D'Alexzandro Soria Ramírez finding the net in the sixth and twelfth minutes respectively. Mexico continued to dominate after the break, with América midfielder and captain Aarón Fernando Muñoz Vázquez scoring twice in the 23rd and 24th minutes. Monterrey centre-forward Romualdo Aguirre then added two more goals, in the 31st and 37th minutes.
“Unfortunately, there isn't much to say,” said head coach Enrico Battisti. “We put in a poor performance in every respect, to the point where it almost looked as though we hadn't even stepped onto the pitch. We conceded after just 30 seconds and lacked determination, presence, and the readiness to respond to everything they threw at us. Mexico's technical superiority, physical strength, and greater determination unfortunately meant that the scoreline became so heavy.”
Italy will return to action tomorrow morning at 6:00 CET on Pitch 5B for the eleventh-place play-off against Poland, who lost 1-0 to Uruguay on Pitch 3B. “They are a very physical, tenacious side who are tactically disciplined,” warned the Italy coach. “So we know we're facing an extremely difficult game. I expect the boys to rediscover the attitude, fluency, and spirit they showed in the opening matches, and to approach the opposition with determination and a willingness to fight for every ball. I wasn't at all happy with today's performance. We have to react and rediscover that mentality, because we cannot afford to take to the pitch with that kind of attitude."
THE MATCH. Italy had Gallierà in goal, with D’Eletto returning as captain following the 9-0 win over the Cook Islands on 25 October. He lined up in defence alongside Chirico and Vian. Tambaro, Turrini and Musella formed the midfield three, with Reguig given freedom to roam in attack. Mexico responded with Jaimes in goal, Mason and Bermúdez in defence, and Torres, Soria, captain Muñoz and Villarreal in midfield, with Loyo leading the line.
Mexico made a flying start and took the lead after just one minute. Villarreal was on hand to convert Loyo's low cross from the right. The Azzurrini tried to respond, but Turrini's left-footed effort from the edge of the box drifted wide in the third minute. Mexico struck again in the sixth minute through Loyo, who finished confidently with his right foot after being set up by Soria. The number 13 then turned provider into goalscorer in the twelfth minute, beating Galliera with a superb curling left-footed shot into the top corner. Enrico Battisti's side made tentative attempts to get forward, but neither Ferraro's right-footed effort from the edge of the box nor Tambaro's left-footed attempt from a similar position, both in the 15th minute, troubled the Mexican defence. Towards the end of the first 20-minute half, Galliera produced a fine save to deny González's dangerous right-footed effort, sending the teams into the break with Mexico leading 3-0.
Mexico picked up where they had left off after the restart, showing no sign of easing off. Muñoz, the captain, effectively settled the contest with two goals in quick succession: he made it 4-0 in the 23rd minute after another assist from Soria, then added a fifth a minute later with an excellent strike from distance. Shaken by conceding twice in the space of a minute, Italy looked to pull a goal back through Reguig, but the number 10's left-footed effort was kept out by an alert Escobedo. Mexico had more energy and extended their lead again in the 31st minute, when Aguirre finished off a counter-attack set up down the right by Soriano. After Brigante had made an excellent save to deny Loyo in the 35th minute, Mexico completed the scoring shortly before the final whistle. Aguirre found space between the Italy defenders and fired home with his right foot to claim his second goal of the game and seal a 7-0 victory, sending the Azzurrini into the eleventh-place play-off.
ITALY 0-7 MEXICO (0-3 half-time)
Italy (3-3-1): Galliera; D'Eletto ©, Chirico, Vian; Tambaro, Turrini, Musella; Reguig | Brigante (P), Carpi, Criscito, Ferraro, Koite. Coach: Enrico Battisti.
Mexico (2-4-1): Jaimes; Mason, Bermúdez; Torres, Soria, Muñoz ©, Villarreal; Loyo | Gutiérrez, González, Muro, Aguirre, Escobedo (P). Coach: Marvin Cabrera.
Goalscorers: 1' Villarreal (MEX), 6' Loyo (MEX), 12' Soria (MEX), 23' Muñoz (MEX), 24' Muñoz (MEX), 31' Aguirre (MEX), 37' Aguirre (MEX).
Notes: booked D’Eletto (ITA) 26’. Stoppage time 1’, 0’.
FIFA U-15 WORLD CUP & FESTIVAL AZERBAIJAN 2026
Qualifying phase (24-26 October)
Standings
Group A: Estonia 11, South Africa 10 (+20), France 10 (+14), Kosovo 9, Maldives 1 (-19), Anguilla 1 (-28).
Group B: Algeria 13, Argentina 12, Malawi 9, Oman 7, Chinese Taipei 3, Suriname 0.
Group C: Republic of Ireland 13, England 12, Nicaragua 7, Zimbabwe 6 (-1), Montenegro 6 (-4), Cambodia 0.
Group D: Brazil 15, El Salvador 9 (-6), Tunisia 9 (+4), DR Congo 6, Guinea-Bissau 3 (-8), Nepal 3 (-12).
Group E: Spain 15, Congo 12, Chile 7 (+7), Tajikistan 7 (+4), Kuwait 3, Barbados 0.
Group F: Morocco 15, Costa Rica 12, Liberia 7, Philippines 6, Belize 4, Curaçao 0.
Group G: Wales 13, Portugal 12, Indonesia 7, Burundi 6, Bangladesh 5, Fiji 0.
Group H: Mexico 15, Malaysia 10, Hungary 7, Syria 6 (-4), Dominica 6 (-7), Ethiopia 0.
Group I: Bulgaria 12, Latvia 7 (+8), Scotland 7 (+6), Lesotho 3, Gabon 0.
Group J: Angola 15, China 10 (+11), Japan 10 (+4), Saudi Arabia 6, Central African Republic 3, Solomon Islands 0.
Group K: Cameroon 12 (+12), Senegal 12 (+23), India 10, Bahrain 4 (-5), Laos 4 (-9), Grenada 1.
Group L: ITALY 15, Qatar 10, Benin 7, Turkmenistan 6, Hong Kong 5, Cook Islands 0.
Group M: Colombia 13, Slovakia 12, Thailand 9, Dominican Republic 7, eSwatini 3, Samoa 0.
Group N: Greece 15, Croatia 10, Yemen 9, Aruba 5, Palestine 4, Saint Lucia 0.
Group O: Peru 13, Mali 12, Belarus 10, Botswana 6, Mongolia 3, Papua New Guinea 0.
Group P: Guinea 13, Guatemala 10 (+11), Honduras 10 (+20), Canada 7, Singapore 3, American Samoa 0.
Group Q: South Korea 12 (+15), United Arab Emirates 12 (+10), Luxembourg 12 (+12), Lithuania 6, St. Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Bhutan 0.
Group R: Bosnia and Herzegovina 15, Iran 12, Vietnam 9, Mauritius 4 (-2), Guyana 4 (-6), Brunei 0.
Group S: Egypt 15, Iraq 12, Trinidad and Tobago 9, Macau 6, Saint Kitts and Nevis 0.
Group T: Venezuela 13, Madagascar 12, Mozambique 10, Somalia 3 (-5), Puerto Rico 3 (-6), New Zealand 3 (-8).
Group U: Ecuador 13, Kyrgyzstan 10 (+11), Uganda 10 (+21), Cape Verde 7, Equatorial Guinea 3, Tonga 0.
Group V: Paraguay 12, Bolivia 9, Gibraltar 4, Tahiti 3, Seychelles 1.
Group W: Ghana 15, Uzbekistan 12, Kazakhstan 7 (+6), Myanmar 7 (-6), Guam 3, Bahamas 0.
Group X: Uruguay 12 (+16), Zambia 12 (+15), Moldova 8, Tanzania 7, Comoros 4, Montserrat 0.
Group Y: Albania 15, Ivory Coast 12, Rwanda 9, Mauritania 4 (-8), Turks and Caicos Islands 4 (-12), Vanuatu 0.
Group Z: Kenya 11, Niger 10, Panama 9, North Macedonia 7, Chad 4, Malta 1.
Group AA: Northern Ireland 12, Lebanon 9, New Caledonia 4, Burkina Faso 3, Antigua and Barbuda 0.
Group AB: Czechia 15, Jamaica 12, Cuba 9, Togo 6, Sri Lanka 3, US Virgin Islands 0.
Group AC: Poland 15, Georgia 12, Namibia 9, Bermuda 6, British Virgin Islands 3, São Tomé and Príncipe 0.
Group AD: Cyprus 10 (+8), South Sudan 10 (-1), Nigeria 7, Jordan 5 (-1), Gambia 5 (0), Pakistan 2.
Group AE: Russia 15, Türkiye 9 (+12), Afghanistan 9 (-5), Sierra Leone 7, Sudan 4, Djibouti 0.
Group AF: Australia 15, Haiti 12, Azerbaijan 9, Andorra 4 (-1), Israel 4 (-7), Timor-Leste 0.
Tournament phase (28-30 October)
Level A | Round of 32 (Wednesday 28 October)
Brazil 7-2 Ireland
Venezuela 1-1 Northern Ireland, 6-5 on penalties
ITALY 1-1 Peru, 5-4 on penalties
Czechia 5-1 Angola
Morocco 4-1 Cameroon
Paraguay 4-0 Cyprus
South Korea 1-2 Ghana
Mexico 3-2 Russia
Spain 1-1 Wales, 5-4 on penalties
Ecuador 1-1 Bulgaria, 4-3 on penalties
Colombia 2-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Poland 4-0 Kenya
Australia 2-7 Greece
Uruguay 6-0 Estonia
Egypt 2-1 Albania
Algeria 0-0 Guinea, 2-4 on penalties
Round of 16 (1st-16th place) (Wednesday 28 October)
Brazil 0-0 Venezuela, 11-10 on penalties
ITALY 3-5 Czechia
Morocco 0-1 Paraguay
Ghana 5-2 Mexico
Spain 4-1 Ecuador
Colombia 5-3 Poland
Greece 1-1 Uruguay, 5-3 on penalties
Egypt 2-4 Guinea
Quarter-finals (1st-8th place) (Thursday 29 October)
Brazil 2-2 Czechia, 4-6 on penalties
Paraguay 2-2 Ghana, 9-8 on penalties
Spain 5-0 Colombia
Greece 2-1 Guinea
Quarter-finals (9th-16th place) (Thursday 29 October)
Venezuela 2-3 ITALY
Morocco 0-3 Mexico
Ecuador 0-4 Poland
Uruguay 3-0 Egypt
Semi-finals (1st-4th place) (Thursday 29 October)
Czechia 2-0 Paraguay
Spain 6-2 Greece
Semi-finals (5th-8th place) (Thursday 29 October)
Brazil 7-1 Ghana
Colombia 2-2 Guinea, 5-6 on penalties
Semi-finals (9th-12th place) (Thursday 29 October)
ITALY 0-7 Mexico
Poland 0-1 Uruguay
Semi-finals (13th-16th place) (Thursday 29 October)
Venezuela 3-4 Morocco
Ecuador 1-1 Egypt, 5-6 on penalties
Finals (Friday 30 October)
1st place
15:00 CET: Czechia vs. Spain, Crystal Hall
3rd place
6:00 CET: Paraguay vs. Greece, Pitch 4A
5th place
6:00 CET: Brazil vs. Guinea, Pitch 4B
7th place
6:00 CET: Ghana vs. Colombia, Pitch 5A
9th place
6:00 CET: Mexico vs. Uruguay, Pitch 5B
11th place
6:00 CET: ITALY vs. Poland, Pitch 3A
13th place
6:00 CET: Morocco vs. Egypt, Pitch 3B
15th place
6:00 CET: Venezuela vs. Ecuador, Pitch 7A