Italy’s Under-17 side produced a determined display to beat France 1-0 at the Kalevi Central Stadium in their opening match of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals, which are taking place in Estonia until 7 June. The result temporarily sends the Azzurrini top of Group B on three points. Empoli forward Diego Perillo scored the decisive goal in the 55th minute in front of Italy’s Ambassador to Estonia, Stefano Catani, who was in the stands alongside Delegation Head Filippo Corti.

“It’s a hugely important win,” said coach Daniele Franceschini. “The opening game is always crucial, not just for the three points but also psychologically, as it gives you a boost for the rest of the tournament. We were up against a strong side today, one that plays good football and has some outstanding individuals, so this win means that bit more. It was a balanced match, but we started well and created several chances early on. In the second half, Diego Perillo’s goal swung the match in our favour, and then we defended really well, especially in the closing stages.”

The Azzurrini will be back in action at the Kalevi Central Stadium on Friday 29 May (13:30 CCEST), when they take on Montenegro, who begin their campaign this evening (18:00 CEST) at the Kadriorg Stadium against Denmark.

“We know Montenegro well, because we already faced them in the first qualifying round,” the coach continued. “Back in October, right here in Estonia, we lost to them (Italy 1-2 Montenegro, 4 October), but this is a different stage of the season. They’ve got real quality and qualified on merit, but we’ll give everything, as we always do, to try and win.”

MATCH. Italy lined up in their familiar 4-3-1-2 – a trademark of the Club Italia setup – with Casagrande and Perillo forming the attacking partnership, and Corigliano supporting in the hole. France responded with a 4-3-3, featuring an attacking trio of Merrifield, Batola and Gadou.

The Azzurrini started brightly and almost took the lead in the seventh minute through Perillo, who first fired straight at Decrenisse after a strong run down the right flank, before sending a close-range effort over the bar from Corigliano’s cross. There was controversy in the eleventh minute: Gasparello delivered a dangerous corner, the French goalkeeper hesitated, and the ball appeared to have crossed the line. However, the goal was disallowed for a foul on the French number 16 after a signal from the assistant referee, having initially been awarded.

Italy continued to push and came close to breaking the deadlock in the 35th minute, when Casagrande curled just wide of the far post with his left foot. In the closing stages of the first half, Lupo was alert to deny Munongo, ensuring it remained 0-0 at the break.

In the second half, Franceschini’s side changed gear, showing real resilience and the ability to strike at the right moment. After an aggressive start from France, the Azzurrini found the decisive breakthrough in the 55th minute. From Corigliano’s free-kick, and after a superb overhead effort from Casagrande was blocked by a defender, Perillo reacted quickest to capitalise on Decrenisse’s mistake under the high ball, poking home from close range to make it 1-0.

France responded well to going behind, raising the tempo and threatening twice through Dago, but on both occasions Lupo remained composed. Italy dropped deeper and dug in, surviving a scare in the 82nd minute when Munongo – who has eleven Ligue 1 appearances for Metz – saw an equaliser rightly ruled out for handball.

In five minutes of added time, Okon-Engstler produced a crucial last-ditch sliding block on Dago’s goal-bound effort (90’+4), before Lupo made a superb save from Becker’s driven cross-shot a minute later, sealing a hugely important opening victory for Franceschini’s side.

ITALY 1-0 FRANCE

Italy (4-3-1-2): Lupo; Bonifazi, Diallo (70' Donato), Varali, Albini; Biondini ©, Okon-Engstler, Gasparello (75' Rocca); Corigliano (84' Ballarin); Casagrande (70' Landi), Perillo (84' Croci). Substitutes: Giaretta (P), Fugazzola, Dattilo, Puricelli. Coach: Daniele Franceschini.

Francia (4-3-3): Decrenisse; Chambon, Becker, Sylla, Gernigon; Munongo © (83' Meïté), Loufoundou (72' Addich), Amaaouch (83' Doganay); Merrifield (68' Tiehi), Batola (72' Dago), Gadou. Substitutes: Mouapa Mwa Meuraillo (P), Kasia Nkondo, Diaby, Lemaître. Coach: José Alcocer.

Referee: Alexandros Tsakalidis (GRE). Assistants: Michail Papadakis (GRE) and Aleksandras Stepanovas (LTU). Fourth official: Ilioski Vlatko (MKD).

Goal: 55’ Perillo (ITA).

Notes: Munongo (FRA) 14’, Bonifazi (ITA) 28’ and Varali (ITA) 60’ booked. Stoppage time: 1’, 5’.

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Emanuele Giaretta (Juventus), Christian Lupo (Lecce);
Defenders: Matteo Albini (Como), Giampaolo Bonifazi (Roma), Lorenzo Dattilo (Roma), Djibril Diallo (Parma), Andrea Donato (Inter), Lorenzo Puricelli (Inter), Edoardo Dario Rocca (Inter), Ludovico Varali (Parma);
Midfielders: Francesco Ballarin (Venezia), Edoardo Biondini (Empoli), Francesco Gasparello (Atalanta), Gianluca Tommaso Okon-Engstler (Club Brugge);
Forwards: Tommaso Casagrande (Hellas Verona), Thomas Corigliano (Juventus), Federico Croci (Fiorentina), Marcello Fugazzola (Atalanta), Jacopo Landi (Empoli), Diego Perillo (Empoli).

Staff – Head Coach: Daniele Franceschini; Delegation Head: Filippo Corti; National Youth Team Vice Coordinator: Daniele Zoratto; Assistant Coach: Marco Scarpa; Goalkeeping Coach: Francesco Antonioli; Fitness Coach: Roberto Ghielmetti; Match Analyst: Francesco Donzella; Doctors: Francesco Cuccaro and Giorgio Liberati Petrucci; Physiotherapists: Aldo Abbadia and Saverio Didonato; Nutritionist: Claudio Pecorella; School Tutor: Fabrizio Scarpelli; Club Italia Scout: Claudio Gabetta; Administration, Finance and Control: Andrea Ottaviani; Press Office: Alessandro Paoli; Secretary: Guglielmo Cammino.

 

UEFA European Under-17 Championship Estonia 2026 | Finals

Group stage (25 May–1 June)

Group A: Estonia, Belgium, Croatia, Spain
Group B: Montenegro, France, ITALY, Denmark

Matchday 1

Monday 25 May
Croatia 0-2 Belgium
Estonia 1-4 Spain

Tuesday 26 May
ITALY 1-0 France
18:00: Montenegro vs. Denmark, Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn

Group A standings: Spain 3 (+3), Belgium 3 (+2), Croatia 0 (-2), Estonia 0 (-3)
Group B standings: ITALY 3, Denmark 0, Montenegro 0, France 0.

Matchday 2

Thursday 28 May
13:30: Belgium vs. Spain, Rakvere Linnastaadion, Rakvere
18:00: Estonia vs. Croatia, Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn

Friday 29 May
13:30: Montenegro vs. ITALY, Kalevi Central Stadium, Tallinn
18:00: France vs. Denmark, Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn

Matchday 3

Sunday 31 May
13:30: Belgium vs. Estonia, Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn
13:30: Spain vs. Croatia, Rakvere Linnastaadion, Rakvere

Monday 1 June
13:30: France vs. Montenegro, Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn
13:30: Denmark vs. ITALY, Kalevi Central Stadium, Tallinn

Knockout stage (4–7 June)

Semi-finals (Thursday 4 June)
S1) 13:30: Winner Group A vs. Runner-up Group B, Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn
S2) 19:00: Winner Group B vs. Runner-up Group A, Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn

Final (Sunday 7 June)
19:00: Winner S1 vs. Winner S2, Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn

NB: All kick-off times are in Central European Summer Time (CEST).