Italy national under-21 football team

The Italy national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Italy and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation.

The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, held every two years. Italy (along with Spain) is the most successful nation in the history of the competition, with five Championships won (1992, 1994, 1996, 2000 and 2004). Italy has also been twice runner-up of the competition, in 1986 and 2013.

From 1990 to 2004 the team established near-total dominance of European Under-21 football, winning five of the seven tournaments.

Italy's Under-21s played the first match at the new Wembley Stadium, on 24 March 2007, against England Under-21s. The game resulted in a 3–3 draw, with Giampaolo Pazzini scoring all 3 goals for the Azzurrini.

Prior to the 2008 Olympic games, Italy U-21s went on to win the 2008 Toulon Tournament by beating Chile (1–0) in the final. It was the first time they had won this tournament, previously their best had been runner-up on two occasions.^[1]

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship

• Winner: 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004
• Runner-up: 1986, 2013

• Summer Olympics

• Third place: 2004

• Mediterranean Games

• Winner: 1997

• Maurice Revello Tournament

• Winner: 2008
• Third place: 2011, 2024

Since the under-21 competition rules insist that players must be 21 or under at the start of a two-year competition, technically it is an U-23 competition. For this reason, Italy's record in the preceding U-23 competitions is also shown.

• 1972: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 3 in qualification group.
• 1974: Losing quarter-finalists.
• 1976: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 3 in qualification group.

*Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Since 1992 Olympic football changed to a U-23 event, and the European U-21 teams are technically U-23 teams. European national teams qualify for the Olympic football tournament through the UEFA European U-21 Championship.

• Before 1992: See Italy national football team
• 1992: Quarter-finals
• 1996: Group stage
• 2000: Quarter-finals
• 2004: Bronze medal
• 2008: Quarter-finals
• 2012: Did not qualify
• 2016: Did not qualify
• 2020: Did not qualify
• 2024: Did not qualify

Mediterranean Games Football tournament was U-23 event in 1993 and 1997.

• 1993: 4th place
• 1997: Winners
• 2001: a U20 event
• 2005: filled with B team

• 1976–1986: Azeglio Vicini
• 1986–1996: Cesare Maldini
• 1996–1997: Rossano Giampaglia
• 1997–2000: Marco Tardelli
• 2000–2006: Claudio Gentile
• 2006–2010: Pierluigi Casiraghi
• 2010–2012: Ciro Ferrara
• 2012–2013: Devis Mangia
• 2013–2019: Luigi Di Biagio
• 2019–2023: Paolo Nicolato
• 2023–present: Carmine Nunziata

Source:^[2]

The following is a list of matches played in the past 12 months and future matches that have been scheduled. Only official matches are listed.^[3]

Players born in 2004 or later are eligible for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Players in bold have been already capped with the senior team.

The following 23 players were selected for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.^[5]

Caps and goals as of 22 June 2025, after the match against Germany.

Following are listed players called up in the previous twelve months who are still eligible to represent the under-21 team.

Players in bold are still eligible to represent the Under-21 team. Caps and goals with the Olympic team are included.

The following is the top 10 most capped under-21 players:^[6]

The following is the top 10 under-21 goalscorers:^[7]

• Italy national football team
• Italy national under-20 football team
• UEFA European Under-21 Championship
• Football at the Summer Olympics

• Official website, Italian language
• Official website, English language
• The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Contains full record of U-21/U-23 Championships.