A huge 90 minutes awaits in Catania, where Group 9’s third and final matchday of the U19 European Championship will take place. After the win over Moldova and the 0–0 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina (despite 23 shots and two strikes against the woodwork), Italy now face Poland, who have already qualified, just four days after the U21 meeting between the two nations.

The Azzurrini can aim for either of two results: a draw is enough to book their place in the elite round scheduled for the spring; a win would mean they finish top of the group. Kick-off at the Angelo Massimino is set for 15:00, and admission is free, as for the previous two games – supporters must download their complimentary ticket from figc.vivaticket.it or vivaticket.com.

IDDRISSOU 

This week there are two Iddrissous playing in Sicily: Jamal, Italy’s centre-forward (one of two players to hit the woodwork against Bosnia) and Subutan, who plays for Marsala in Eccellenza. Both forwards, three years apart (Subutan born in 2004, Jamal in 2007), and likely to reunite in Catania tomorrow: one on the pitch, the other in the stands supporting his younger brother. “It’s an extra motivation,” Jamal admits. “We’ve seen each other less since he moved to Foggia and then elsewhere in the south. This is my first time here and the impact has been fantastic: the atmosphere is warm, the conditions are great – I really hope it’ll be a memorable day.”

Iddrissou has had quite a run of memorable days recently: progress at Inter, appearances in Serie C with the Under-23 side, the call-up for the U20 World Cup in Chile, and now the role of leading striker in the U19s. “It’s impossible to describe: everything has happened so quickly, but I have so many people backing me: my teammates, my family, my friends in Concesio, who mean absolutely everything to me.” Born in Italy to Ghanaian parents, Iddrissou’s dream began in the province of Brescia: first steps at Sant’Andrea, then the call from Inter. “I’ve always supported Inter, but one day I came home and my father told me a club scout had contacted him. You can imagine the emotions.”

There were years of travelling back and forth for training before moving into the club residence, another key step in his development. Athleticism runs in the family: as well as his centre-forward brother, one of his two sisters competes in athletics. “My family follow me everywhere; in Milan no one ever misses a match,” he says. “Here they’ll be watching on TV, and I’m happy they’re proud of me. Hearing the anthem and wearing the national shirt is something you just can’t explain – everything is happening so fast that I only truly process it when I stop and think.”

He plays up front today, but that hasn’t always been the case: he played out wide in 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 set-ups, before Inter youth coaches Tiziano Polenghi and Benny Carbone spotted something different. “Carbone told me: ‘You need to be a striker.’ I owe him everything – he changed me. I still need to improve, especially with my back to goal, but the higher the level, the more you grow. Playing in the Under-23s at 19 is huge: you’re up against more experienced opponents and you learn from senior players in the dressing room. When I drop back into the Primavera, I try to bring that Under-23 experience to the younger ones.”

Off the pitch, Jamal likes to “always smile and be around people, I’m not someone who shuts himself off.” On the pitch, he has clear idols, and a dream of making his senior Inter debut. “My biggest model right now is Thuram – he’s simply too strong. Every time I train with the first team, I try to learn something from him. But I also admire Rashford. Growing up, my hero was Mauro Icardi.” A centre-forward, like both him and his brother.

FREE ENTRY

Admission is free for all matches. For Italy’s games in Catania, supporters must download their free ticket at figc.vivaticket.it or vivaticket.com.

MEDIA ACCREDITATION

Journalists, photographers and broadcast operators wishing to request access to stadiums and restricted areas may send an email titled “Accredito media Nazionale Under 19” to press@figc.it and m.calabresi@figc.it, indicating their media outlet and the matches for which accreditation is requested. The deadline is 19:00 CET on the day before each match.

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Alessandro Nunziante (Udinese), Tommaso Vannucchi (Pontedera)

Defenders: Matteo Cocchi (Inter), Javison Osarumwense Idele (Atalanta), Marco Leandri (Atalanta), Manuel Maffessoli (Atalanta), Federico Nardin (Roma), Andrea Natali (AZ Alkmaar), Francesco Verde (Juventus)

Midfielders: Filippo Cerpelletti (Inter), Alessandro Ciardi (Parma), Federico Coletta (Benfica), Alessandro Di Nunzio (Roma), Mattia Liberali (Catanzaro), Matteo Mantini (Grasshoppers), Emanuele Sala (Milan)

Forwards: Alessio Cacciamani (Juve Stabia), Alex Castiello (Milan), Jamal Iddrissou (Inter), Mattia Mosconi (Inter)

Staff: Head coach: Alberto Bollini; Youth National Teams coordinator: Maurizio Viscidi; Club Italia: Giuseppe Martucci; Assistant coach: Christian Maggio; Fitness coach: Nicolò Varesco; Goalkeeping coach: Graziano Vinti; Match analyst: Luca Dalmasso; Doctors: Gianluca Ciolli, Francesco Maria Nifosì; Physiotherapists: Simone Siciliano, Matteo Giorcelli; Nutritionist: Dennis Dell’Unto; Tutor: Alessandro Milani; Team manager: Aldo Blessich.

UEFA U19 European Championship Wales 2026 | Group 9

Matchday 1 (Wednesday 12 November)

Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-2 Poland
ITALY 8-0 Moldova

Matchday 2 (Saturday 15 November)

Poland 2-1 Moldova
ITALY 0-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina

Matchday 3 (Tuesday 18 November)

15:00 – Poland vs ITALY, Stadio Angelo Massimino, Catania
15:00 – Moldova vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, Stadio Aci e Galatea, Acireale

Table: Poland 6, ITALY 4, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1, Moldova 0