U21 EURO: Italy vs. Romania official line-ups

BOLZEN, ITALY – OCTOBER 17: Tommaso Baldanzi of Roma and Italy during the UEFA U21 EURO Qualifier match between Italy and Norway at Stadio Druso on October 17, 2023 in Bolzen, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Italy open their European Under-21 Championship campaign against Romania with Tommaso Baldanzi, Luca Koleosho and Willy Gnonto.

It kicks off at the Anton Malatinsky Stadium in Trnava at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT, 21.00 CET).

The Azzurrini are in Group A along with Romania, Spain and host nation Slovakia.

Spain are currently top after scraping a 90th minute victory over Slovakia, 3-2.

Only the top two teams from each group go through to the quarter-finals.

Coach Carmine Nunziata has Cesare Casadei and Diego Coppola available after both participated in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with the senior squad.

However, they are initially on the bench for the Azzurrini.

Roma creative midfielder Baldanzi and Burnley’s Koleosho are in support of the False 9, Leeds United striker Gnonto.

Their top scorer in qualifying, Spezia’s Francesco Pio Esposito, misses the tournament through injury.

This is largely the Italy squad that won the U19 EURO title in 2023 and reached the U-20 World Cup Final the same year.

There are five players in the Romania Under-21 squad who are at Italian clubs, including Udinese goalkeeper Razvan Sava, Lecce striker Rares Burnete, Catanzaro winger Rares Ilie and Milan Futuro defender Matteo Dutu.

Italy vs. Romania official line-ups

Italy: Desplanches; Zanotti, Ghilardi, Pirola, Ruggeri; Fabbian, Prati, Ndour; Baldanzi, Koleosho; Gnonto

Romania: Sava; Strata, Ignat, M Ilie, Borza; Corbu, Akdag, Grameni; Stoica, Munteanu, R Ilie

Ref: Fotias (GRE)