Mission accomplished as Italy’s U17s punched their ticket to the Final Phase of the European championship. The five black-and-blue players (namely, Andrea Bonanomi, Leonardo Mendicino, Federico Ragnoli Galli, Gabriel Ramaj and Lorenzo Riccio) called up by coach Corradi pulled their weight in the qualification to the following stage. The Azzurrini have closed the Élite Round disputed in Cyprus as runner-ups of their group, after tying on points with Ireland and as a result of the lesser goal ratio. Nonetheless, the 7 points accrued did eventually suffice to make it to the next stage.

In the last and key commitment, Mendicino also scored the final goal as his magisterial solo play (a left-footed curler after a series of dribbles) met the top corner to make it 3-0 in the win against Ukraine, thus securing the victory (and the passage to the next round altogether).
The Final Phase of the Under-17 Euros is to be disputed in Hungary between May 17 and the 2nd of June.

Pictured in the cover from left to right, Ramaj, Riccio, Ragnoli Galli, Bonanomi and Mendicino donning the colours of the National team.