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In front of 3,000 spectators in Cosenza, Italy U19 beat Slovakia 3-0 thanks to goals from Mattia Mosconi (Inter), Mattia Liberali (Catanzaro), and Federico Coletta (Benfica), repeating their result from three days ago against Hungary and maintaining their perfect record ahead of the final matchday of the Euros U19 qualifying round. Six points, six goals, and two wins for Alberto Bollini's team, as well as for Turkey (who beat Hungary 3-2 this morning), three days before their clash with Italy on Tuesday at 15:00 CEST that will decide which team will fly from Calabria to Wales.
After two matches, however, Italy are ahead on goal difference (+6 compared with Turkey’s +2), meaning a draw would be enough to secure qualification. The decisive match will take place at the Stadio Nicola Ceravolo in Catanzaro, where Italy opened their group stage fixtures with a win over Hungary. The support seen at the 'San Vito-Gigi Marulla' was extraordinary, thanks to the involvement of the Youth and School Sector through the Calabria Regional Federal Coordination SGS, the promotion of the event in the area in collaboration with the regional school office of the MIM, the Regional CONI, and the combined effort carried out with the CR LND Calabria, to allow for the broad involvement of clubs, schools and sports associations in the area.
Bollini: “Credit to the players for approaching the match in a calm manner. We needed the opening goal and once we scored it the match went our way. The team is showing great tactical, technical and emotional commitment. We are confident and aware of our qualities, and that shows both in matches and in our daily work. The game against Turkey? We have to go out and play our football to win: attacking, freely, without getting caught up in calculations. And with the support of the people of Calabria, whom I want to thank for the fantastic response from families and children again today, we will be even stronger.”
The match. Without the suspended Inacio — serving the final match of his ban — Bollini made two changes from the win over Hungary, bringing in Verde in defence for Reggiani and Comotto in midfield for Mantini. The attacking trio remained unchanged, with Idele and Mosconi supporting Iddrissou. After scoring twice against Hungary, Iddrissou was again Italy’s most dangerous player early on, first forcing a save from Zajac and then heading wide from Natali’s cross following a corner. Slovakia threatened from a Baleja free-kick that Pessina pushed away, but Italy reasserted themselves and took the lead through Mosconi, who finished Iddrissou’s excellent move — a belated present two days after his 19th birthday. Slovakia’s task became even harder when Lajciak was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the space of a minute. Italy took advantage before the break, doubling the lead through Liberali, who converted from a set-piece after being set up by Cocchi.
At the start of the second half the teams returned to numerical parity when Sala was sent off for Italy, and the game produced fewer chances than the opening period. The decisive moment arrived in the 72nd minute, when Coletta — typically a holding midfielder — turned sharply in the box and finished like a true striker to make it 3–0. In stoppage time, Blasko struck the crossbar with a free kick, but the Cosenza crowd cheered the final whistle as Italy secured another convincing victory and now look ahead to Tuesday’s decisive match for a place in the finals.
ITALY 3-0 SLOVAKIA
ITALY (4-3-3): Pessina; Nardin, Verde, Natali, Cocchi; Liberali (51' Coletta), Sala, Comotto; Idele (76' Steffanoni), Iddrissou (64' Galvagno), Mosconi (76' Marello). Substitutes: Vannucchi, Reggiani, Leandri, Mantini. Coach. Bollini
SLOVAKIA (4-3-3): Zajac; Bortoli, Pristach (84' Majer), Lajciak, Ziska (76' Slovak); Udvaros (46' Balog), Vlna, Blasko; Baleja (84' Konopka), Zulevic, Trello (70' Bacik). Substitutes: Kalanin. Coach. Ancic
Referee: Correia (Portogallo). Assistants: Nogueira Dias (Portogallo), Rijavec (Serbia). Fourth official: Nikolic (Serbia)
Goalscorers: 37’ Mosconi, 45+1' Liberali, 72' Coletta
Note: Lajciak (S) was sent off in the 41st minute for receiving a second yellow card. Sala (I) was sent off in the 57th for the same. Coach Ancic was sent off in the 41st minute of the first half for protesting. Vina (S), Steffanoni (I), Bacik (S), and Comotto (I) were booked.
Ticketing. Entry to the match between Italy and Turkey (Tuesday 31 March, 15:00 CEST) will be free of charge upon presentation of an access pass that can be downloaded from the FIGC ticketing portal.
Admission to the match between Hungary and Slovakia, scheduled at the Real Cosenza Sports Centre, will be open to the public without the need for a ticket.
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(Catanzaro, Tuesday 31 March, 15:00 CEST – Stadio Nicola Ceravolo)
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UEFA U19 Championship Wales 2026 – Qualifying Round
Group 6: Italy, Turkey, Slovakia, Hungary
Matchday 1 – Wednesday 25 March
Slovakia 0-1 Turkey
Italy 3-0 Hungary
Matchday 2 – Saturday 28 March
Turkey 3-2 Hungary
Italy 3-0 Slovakia
Standings:
Italy (+6) and Turkey (+2) 6 points; Slovakia and Hungary 0
Matchday 3 – Tuesday 31 March
15:00 CEST – Turkey vs Italy (Stadio Nicola Ceravolo, Catanzaro – live on Vivo Azzurro TV)
15:00 CEST – Hungary vs Slovakia (Real Cosenza Sports Centre, Cosenza)