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Italy Under-19s' UEFA European Under-19 Championship campaign came to a bitter end in Wales as Alberto Bollini's side lost 5-4 on penalties to Denmark at the Bangor City Stadium in the play-off for qualification to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan 2027.
Following 120 goalless minutes, Bologna goalkeeper Massimo Pessina saved Alfred Gøthler's penalty, but misses from AZ Alkmaar defender Andrea Natali and Juventus winger Destiny Onoguekhan Elimoghale ultimately proved decisive. Natali's effort allowed Lecce forward Hjalte Lærke to restore parity from the spot before Silkeborg defender Simon Stüker converted the winning penalty to secure victory for Mads Lyng's side.
Italy therefore miss out on qualification for the U-20 World Cup, ending a run of four consecutive appearances after competing in South Korea in 2017, Poland in 2019, Argentina in 2023 and Chile in 2025.
THE MATCH. Italy stayed with their familiar 4-3-3 but made four changes from the side beaten 1-0 by Ukraine in Bangor on Sunday. Rizzo made his first appearance of the finals at right-back in place of Nardin, while Idele, Liberali and Mosconi replaced Coletta, Iddrissou and 2009-born Elimoghale in the front three. Denmark also lined up in a 4-3-3, making three changes from the team that defeated hosts Wales 3-0 in Wrexham three days earlier. Gustafsen came into defence for Stüker, Lucena replaced Kirk in midfield, while Legolas started in attack in place of Hyseni, who had scored twice against Wales. However, Lyng was without Hyseni and Martin, who had both returned to their respective clubs, Sønderjyske and Odense, after the group stage.
Italy took control from the opening whistle, creating a string of chances and forcing Denmark onto the back foot for much of the first half. Their first opening came in the eighth minute when Liberali's header from Wiafe's cross flashed narrowly over the angle of post and bar. Less than ten minutes later, Sala tried his luck twice from distance, first seeing his effort blocked before firing the second off target. Italy continued to press, with Marello testing Breum-Harild in the 23rd minute. Denmark offered little in response until the half-hour mark, when Lecce forward Lærke's free-kick from around 20 yards out struck the wall. The closing stages of the half were almost entirely one-way traffic. Wiafe fired just wide from the edge of the area (41') before, less than a minute later, Idele was denied by a defender positioned virtually on the goal line. After two minutes of added time, the teams went into the break with the score still locked at 0-0.
After an excellent save from Pessina to deny Legolas' dangerous left-footed drive across goal in the 54th minute, the Azzurrini reasserted their control and came within inches of breaking the deadlock seven minutes later. Substitute Iddrissou's curling low shot was pushed away by Breum-Harild before Mosconi, with the goal at his mercy, saw his left-footed follow-up brilliantly blocked by a defender. Italy continued to pile on the pressure. Natali fired over from just over 25 yards out (63'), while Rizzo's header from Marello's cross narrowly missed the top corner (66'). As the match entered its closing stages, however, Denmark came closest to scoring. Møller first collected Gustafsen's pass from the right before shooting just wide from the edge of the area (85'). Then, two minutes into stoppage time, Gøthler skilfully worked his way into the box only to be denied by Natali's outstanding goal-line clearance at the near post. After four minutes of added time, the score remained goalless and the contest went into extra time.
Italy continued to dictate proceedings in extra time and almost found the breakthrough in the 100th minute. Idele delivered an inviting cross from the right for Wiafe, whose header beat Breum-Harild but came back off the post. Mosconi reacted quickest to the rebound, only to send his first-time effort into the side netting. Denmark looked to disrupt Italy's rhythm with a series of substitutions, but the Azzurrini remained on top throughout the second period of extra time. Tension mounted in the closing minutes, yet neither side could find a winner, meaning the tie would be settled by a penalty shootout.
The shootout remained finely balanced throughout. Coletta and Marello both converted for Italy, while Søndergaard scored for Denmark before Pessina produced a superb save to deny Gøthler. Italy were unable to capitalise, however, as Natali's penalty was saved by Breum-Harild. Wiafe and Iddrissou then kept their composure from the spot, but so did Lærke, Bonde and Abrahamsen for Denmark. Elimoghale's effort flew over the crossbar, leaving Stüker to slot home the decisive penalty and end the Azzurrini's U-20 World Cup dream.
DENMARK 0-0 ITALY AET (Denmark win 5-4 on penalties)
Denmark (4-3-3): Breum-Harild; Gustafsen © (Bonde 104'), Kupijbida, Søndergaard, Elkjær (Monrad 71'); Lucena (Stüker 99'), Bender (Schjøtt 112'), Møller (Abrahamsen 91'); Lærke, Gøthler, Legolas (Kirk 71'). Substitutes: Grønkjær (GK). Coach: Mads Lyng.
Italy (4-3-3): Pessina; Rizzo (Nardin 87'), Natali, Verde, Marello; Wiafe, Sala ©, Mantini (Iddrissou 56'); Idele, Liberali (Coletta 82'), Mosconi (Elimoghale 106'). Substitutes: Vannucchi (GK), Cocchi, De Paoli, Comotto, Arena. Coach: Alberto Bollini.
Referee: Florian Badstübner (Germany).
Assistant referees: Christian Gittelmann (Germany), Wade Smith (England).
Fourth official: Sam Barrott (England).
Goals: None.
Penalty shootout: Coletta (Italy) scored, Søndergaard (Denmark) scored, Marello (Italy) scored, Gøthler (Denmark) saved, Natali (Italy) saved, Lærke (Denmark) scored, Wiafe (Italy) scored, Bonde (Denmark) scored, Iddrissou (Italy) scored, Abrahamsen (Denmark) scored, Elimoghale (Italy) over, Stüker (Denmark) scored.
Bookings: Mosconi (Italy) 9', Verde (Italy) 30', Legolas (Denmark) 60', Bender (Denmark) 65', Gustafsen (Denmark) 103'.
Added time: First half 2 minutes; second half 4 minutes. No added time in either period of extra time.
SQUAD
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; Youth National Teams Coordinator: Maurizio Viscidi; Assistant Coach: Christian Maggio; Goalkeeping Coach: Graziano Vinti; Fitness Coach: Nicolò Varesco; Match Analyst: Luca Dalmasso; Team 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: Antonio Martuscelli; Press Officer: Alessandro Paoli; Team Secretary: Aldo Blessich.
UEFA European Under-19 Championship Wales 2026 | Finals
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
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 0-0 ITALY (Denmark win 5-4 on penalties)
Semi-finals (Wednesday 8 July)
Spain 3-0 Croatia
SF2) 20:00: Ukraine vs. Germany, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Final (Saturday 11 July)
20:00: Spain vs. Winner SF2, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
NB: All kick-off times are in CEST (Central European Summer Time).