U17 World Cup: Italy set up historic semi-final against Austria

TRIESTE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 09: Thomas Campaniello of Italy U17 looks on during the International Friendly match between Italy U17 and Spain U17 at Stadio Nereo Rocco on September 09, 2024 in Trieste, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Italy have reached the Under-17 World Cup semi-final for the first time in 38 years and will face Austria after eliminating Burkina Faso 1-0.

The Azzurrini had won all of their games so far in the tournament in Qatar, defeating Qatar, Bolivia, South Africa, Czechia and Uzbekistan, scoring 13 goals and conceding three.

Burkina Faso were surprise qualifiers for the quarter-final, having eliminated Germany and Uganda in the knockout rounds.

Federico Steffanoni forced an early save, Simone Lontani was denied by a desperate Fadil Barro tackle, and Benit Borasio drilled just wide from distance.

However, there were also big scares for Italy, as Mohamed Zongo was twice denied a goal by the frame of the goal, first hitting the upright, then onto the crossbar on the rebound after Alessandro Longoni parried the initial Alassana Bagayogo counter-attack.

Samuele Inacio and Bagayogo forced saves after the restart, then Luca Reggiani had the ball in the net only after wandering offside on the rebound from Thomas Campaniello’s attempt.

The Nazionale finally broke the deadlock on 83 minutes when goalkeeper Rahim Ouattara made a mess of his clearance, allowing Campaniello to pounce at the near post.

Italy 1-0 Burkina Faso

Campaniello 83 (I)

Italy U17: Longoni; Iddrisa, Borasio, Reggiani, Mambuku; Steffanoni (Marini 70), Prisco; Luongo (Pandolfi 91), Inacio (Bovio 91), Arena (Campaniello 70); Lontani (Elimoghale 55)

Burkina Faso U17: R Ouattara; Ouedraogo (E Ouattara 88), Dabo, F Barro, Coulibaly; Zongo, Zalle, C Barro (Diakité 80), Kogo; Bagayoko, Tapsoba