Italy U-20 team profile: key players, full squad list, coach for 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup

Topics: Italy, Gianluca Scamacca, Paolo Nicolato, FIFA U-20 World Cup

Italy will be hoping to improve on their third-placed finish from the last U-20 World Cup as they feature in back-to-back tournaments for the first time in their history.

What is Italy U-20's history in the FIFA U-20 World Cup?

Nicknamed the Azzurrini (little Blues), Italy's under-20 side have featured at six prior tournaments. The team made their first appearance in 1977 in Tunisia (when it was called the FIFA World Youth Championship) but were knocked out in the group stages. They then failed to qualify for the 1979 edition before featuring at two more World Youth Championships in 1981 (group stage) and 1987 (quarter-finals).

However, after that, it was not until 2005 that the Azzurrini finally made a return to the biannual youth competition. After an 18-year absence, they were able to again make it to the quarter-finals, and hopes were high that this could perhaps represent a new dawn for the youth side. Unfortunately, they missed out on a spot in 2007, but in 2009, repeated the same feats of the teams who participated in the 2005 and 1987 editions by getting to the quarter-finals.

Italy again struggled on the youth world stage, however, and failed to qualify for the 2011, 2013, and 2015 competitions. In 2017, the team recorded their best-ever finish at a under-20 World Cup, beating Uruguay on spot-kicks to secure third place, and now will have a chance at competing in back-to-back World Cups for the first time in their history.

What is Italy's group at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup?

Italy U-20 are in Group B. For more information and analysis on the Italians' Last 16 qualification chances, check out Group B analysis: Mexico, Italy, Japan, Ecuador - FIFA U-20 World Cup 2019 teams.

What is Italy U-20's full squad list for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup?

Here is the Azzurrini's squad for the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland next month:

Goalkeepers: Alessandro Plizzari (AC Milan); Michele Cerofolini (Bisceglie)

Defenders: Gabriele Zappa (Inter); Alessandro Tripaldelli (Crotone); Nadir Zortea (Atalanta); Federico Valietti (Crotone); Matteo Gabbia (Lucchese); Alessandro Buongiorno (Carpi); Luca Ercolani (Manchester United); Luca Ranieri (Foggia); Marco Sala (Arezzo)

Midfielders: André Anderson (Salernitana); Domenico Alberico (Hoffenheim II); Andrea Marcucci (Foggia); Enrico Del Prato (Atalanta); Andrea Colpani (Atalanta); Alessandro Mallamo (Novara); Filippo Melegoni (Pescara); Andrea Danzi (Verona); Davide Frattesi (Ascoli)

Forwards: Marco Olivieri (Juventus U23); Gianluca Scamacca (Sassuolo); Christian Capone (Pescara); Mirko Antonucci (Pescara)

Who are the key players to watch for Italy U-20 at the U-20 World Cup?

With Moise Kean not being selected for the squad, this will give other youngsters a chance to shine. One key player to look out for as the Azzurrini aim to win their first ever u-20 World Cup will be Gianluca Scamacca. Born in Rome, the tall striker has been compared to none other than Zlatan Ibrahimovic due to his ability to hold up the ball, strength, and threat in the air. Another player he has been compared to is Italian icon Christian Vieri - but Scamacca naturally will be keen on carving out his own identity with current club Sassuolo, where returned early on loan at the end of this past January from Zwolle in the Eredivise.

In 2018, he was part of the 2019 squad who won a runners-up medal at the u-19 EURO championship, scoring two goals, including one in the final, but it wasn't enough to help Italy beat Portugal as the Azzurrini succumbed to a 4-3 extra-time defeat.

Who is Italy U-20's coach?

The Azzurrini are currently led by Paolo Nicolato, who was appointed last August and has a contract until July 31st of this year. Nicolato previously plied his trade as a forward for several lower-tier sides before starting his coaching career as manager in 1987 as an assistant coach of youth side Maddalena Mazza Grand Prix di Verona.

Following that, Nicolato made the switch to the women's game, where he coached two Serie D sides (San Martino and Bussolengo) before moving onto Chievo, first as a youth coach and then later as an assistant manager for the first team in the 2012/2013 campaign. Notably, he helped guide the Flying Donkeys' u-19 side to the Primavera championship the following year.

That success opened the door to working with the youth sides at the national level, and in 2016, he started out as manager of the under-18 side, followed by a step up to the under-19 squad which finished as runners-up to Portugal at the 2018 UEFA EURO U-19 Championship.

How can I watch Italy U-20's 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup matches?

The Azzurrini will kick off their group stage campaign against Mexico, Ecuador, and Japan and here's how you can watch Italy U-20's FIFA U-20 World Cup fixtures: