Italy's Under-21 national team demolished Poland 6-2 at Pescara's Stadio Adriatico, securing direct qualification to the 2027 European Championship finals in Albania and Serbia. The victory, watched by FIGC president Giovanni Malagò and technical director Claudio Ranieri, put Carmine 'Silvio' Baldini's side level on 27 points with Poland at the top of Group E, with Italy taking first place on goal difference.
A decisive night on the Adriatic coast
Italy needed to win to guarantee qualification and attacked from the start. The opening goal came in the 16th minute through Luca Koleosho, the Paris FC forward controlling a deflected pass with his thigh before finishing from close range. Poland, pushed back, could not hold out and fell further behind when Cher Ndour headed in at the 27th minute, connecting with a cross from Francesco Liberali.Ndour, the Fiorentina midfielder and Italy captain, then scored one of the goals of the tournament. In the 54th minute he struck from roughly 70 metres, catching the Polish goalkeeper off his line after stealing possession in his own half.
Bordeseal the win
Substitute Luca Lipani, on for Michael Faticanti, made it 4-0 just three minutes after Ndour's second goal, finishing a move led by Koleosho. Poland pulled one back through Mikołajewski in the 65th minute, but Italy went straight back up the other end. Seydou Fini, who had come on for Liberali, dribbled into the box and beat the goalkeeper to restore the four-goal cushion.The final minutes saw two more goals: Żewłakow scored Poland's second in the 85th minute before Luigi Cherubini added Italy's sixth a minute later.
Praise from the federation
Giovanni Malagò, president of the Italian Football Federation, praised the team's 'quality, character and sense of belonging'.
'The qualification for the European Championship and first place in the group, achieved with such a clear result, are a reason for great satisfaction for the entire FIGC and for Italian football,' Malagò said.
Claudio Ranieri, standing in as the Federation's delegate for the match, said: 'They enthralled the public in Pescara.'
Baldini, appointed to lead the Under-21 side, was visibly moved. 'These are special, extraordinary boys and they deserve this satisfaction,' he said. 'They behaved like great professionals for 15 days.'
What happens next
Italy now prepare for the Under-21 Euro final tournament, to be held from 16 June to 3 July 2027 across Albania and Serbia. The competition also offers qualification spots for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.'Baldini's side showed an identity and values that were then reflected on the pitch,' Ranieri added. 'The path of these qualifiers is a clear sign that talent needs to be cultivated through time and trust.'
Goal scorers
• Luca Koleosho (16')
• Cher Ndour (27', 54')
• Luca Lipani (59')
• Seydou Fini (66')
• Luigi Cherubini (86')
Poland's goals came from Mikołajewski (65') and Żewłakow (85').
