At the end of March, the Azzurrini’s efforts to reach the knockout phase of Euro U21 Albania & Serbia 2027 – the 26th edition of the competition – resumes. Italy, placed in Group E, sit second on 15 points, three behind leaders Poland, the only side still with a perfect record. The March fixture window holds two challenges for Baldini’s team: on Thursday 26 March at 18:15 CET, Italy host North Macedonia at the ‘Carlo Castellani’ in Empoli, while five days later they travel to the Borås Arena to face Sweden at 18:30 CET.

Head coach Baldini during a training session

CHASING POLAND. Over the same period, Poland will first host Armenia before travelling to Montenegro. The battle at the top therefore continues from a distance, with only first place – alongside the best runner-up across the nine groups – granting direct qualification to Albania and Serbia (the remaining eight second-placed teams will go through play-offs to determine the final four qualifiers). Should Italy and Poland remain level in form, they would meet on 5 October in a final matchday that could effectively decide top spot. For now, however, focus remains on the three fixtures still to be played before that clash (the two March matches and the trip to Armenia on 1 October).

Cher Ndour in the last match against North Macedonia in Bitola

 

THE OPPOSITION. Attention first turns to North Macedonia and Sweden. The Balkan side have collected just three points so far but, as shown in the reverse fixture, are far from an easy opponent. In Bitola, the Azzurrini had to grind out a 1–0 win despite playing 75 minutes with ten men following Moruzzi’s dismissal. More convincing was the 4–0 victory over Sweden in Cesena, arguably Baldini’s side’s best performance in qualifying so far. The Scandinavians, however, are still in contention for second place with nine points and will look to make the most of back-to-back home fixtures in March: on the 26th, they also host Montenegro (also on nine points) in Boras. Italy’s only previous meeting with North Macedonia remains that 1–0 win, while against Sweden this will be the 23rd encounter: the Azzurrini lead the head-to-head with 10 wins, compared to four defeats and eight draws.

 

Mattia Mannini, who has received his first U21 call-up

 

 

THE SQUAD. Baldini has had to deal with several injuries, including those to Mané, Idrissi and Camarda (the latter will join the group on Wednesday evening and attend the Empoli match with the delegation), and has also welcomed the promotion of Palestra and Pisilli to the senior national team. The Tuscan coach has largely confirmed the core group seen so far in qualifying, while also introducing four players receiving their first-ever U21 call-ups: Avellino goalkeeper Giovanni Daffara, Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor, Juve Stabia midfielder Mattia Mannini and his teammate, forward Alessio Cacciamani. Also returning are Borussia Mönchengladbach centre-back Fabio Chiarodia (a starter in the first two qualifiers before injury ruled him out of the following four) and Frosinone striker Antonio Raimondo, absent from the U21 setup since September.

THE AZZURRINI IN EMPOLI. This will be the sixth time the U21 side plays in Empoli, where they remain unbeaten with three wins (the most recent being 3–0 against Luxembourg in September 2021, with goals from Cancellieri and Pirola and an own goal from Olesem) and two draws. Back in 1986, Italy drew 1–1 with Switzerland with Onorati on the scoresheet, while in November 2024 the Azzurrini shared a 2–2 draw with France, following goals from Casadei and Ambrosino.

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Giovanni Daffara (Avellino), Edoardo Motta (Lazio), Lorenzo Palmisani (Frosinone)

Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Atalanta), Davide Bartesaghi (AC Milan), Gabriele Calvani (Frosinone), Fabio Chiarodia (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Pietro Comuzzo (Fiorentina), Costantino Favasuli (Catanzaro), Gabriele Guarino (Empoli), Mattia Mannini (Juve Stabia), Brando Moruzzi (Empoli)

Midfielders: Tommaso Berti (Cesena), Matteo Dagasso (Venezia), Giacomo Faticanti (Juventus), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Cher Ndour (Fiorentina), Lorenzo Venturino (Roma)

Forwards: Alessio Cacciamani (Juve Stabia), Luigi Cherubini (Sampdoria), Jeff Ekhator (Genoa), Seydou Fini (Frosinone), Luca Koleosho (Paris FC), Antonio Raimondo (Frosinone)