Nazionale U18

The return of the Mediterranean Games: training camp in Rome, ahead of kick off against Portugal on 26 June

The 19th edition of the multi-sport event in Orano is fast approaching and will take place from 25 June to 5 July. Italy have won 4 gold medals at the tournament in the past and were finalists when it came to football in the last edition of the tournament in Tarragona, 2018. Franceschini’s Under-18s will be representing Italy for the fourth year running. The Azzurrini are in a group with Portugal, Greece and Turkey.

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

The return of the Mediterranean Games: training camp in Rome, ahead of kick off against Portugal on 26 June

Once again, Daniele Franceschini’s Under-18 national team will represent Italian football in the 19th edition of the Mediterranean Games, the multi-sport event (29 sports, with 292 medal-worthy events) will be hosted in Orano, Algeria from Saturday 25 June to Tuesday 5 July. Italy were defeated in the final by Spain, 3-2, winning silver in the last instalment of the competition, back in 2018 in Tarragona. Franchescini was their manager back then too. Italy boasts the most wins in the footballing side of the competition, with 4; this is more than any other nation in the competition’s history, having won gold back in 1959, 1963, 1967 and 1997. 

18 players have been called up in total for the tournament, who will make the trip to the Giulio Onesti Olympic Preparation Centre in Rome, on 19 June. They will then fly to Algeria on 23 June.

The young Azzurri side have been drafted into Group B, with Portugal, Greece and Turkey their competition. They will kickstart their tournament against Portugal on Sunday 26 June (21:00 CEST) at the Ahmed Zabana Stadium in Orano, then Greece on Tuesday 28 June (21:00 CEST) at the Mers El Hadjadj and the final group stage fixture against Turkey in Sig, on Thursday 30 June (21:00 CEST). The top two teams from the group will progress to the semi-finals (2 July), where they will meet the top two from Group A (Spain, France, Algeria and Morocco). The 3rd/4th place play-off will be on Monday 4 July, while the final will be held on Tuesday 5 July.

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Davide Mastrantonio (Roma), Nicola Bagnolini (Bologna);
Defenders: Andrea Bozzolan (AC Milan), Lorenzo Dellavalle (Juventus), Gabriele Guarino (Empoli), Filippo Missori (Roma), Iacopo Regonesi (Atalanta), Riccardo Stivanello (Bologna);
Midfielders: Federico Accornero (Genoa), Lorenzo Amatucci (Fiorentina), Luis Hasa (Juventus), Lorenzo Ignacchiti (Empoli), Justin Kumi (Sassuolo), Andrea Palella (Genoa), Nicola Patané (Verona);
Forwards: Tommaso Mancini (Vicenza), Antonio Raimondo (Bologna), Samuele Vignato (Monza).

Staff – Coach: Daniele Franceschini; Assistant Coach: Matteo Barella; Athleticism Coach: Nicolò Varesco; Goalkeeper Coach: Fabrizio Capodici; Match Analyst: Andrea Zappavigna; Doctors: Monica Fabbri and Cosma Calderaro; Physiotherapist: Angelo Cartocci; Secretary: Luca Gatto.