Italy storm to the finals

There was no stopping Italy as they sailed through Group 7 to the UEFA European Under-19 Championship finals.

Formidable opponents
On home territory, the Italians proved to be formidable opponents, winning their qualifying group with three straight wins, scoring nine goals and conceding just one, to reach the finals this summer.

Winning ways
Italy started as they meant to go on, winning 4-1 against Latvia with goals from Gabriele Perico, Gianpaolo Pazzini, Luigi Andrea Della Rocca and Alberto Aquilani.

Early goal
In their second game, an early goal for Georgia's Otar Martsvaladze could not put Italy off their stride as another Della Rocca goal, a Francesco Lodi penalty and Pazzini's second-half effort earned a 3-1 win for the hosts.

Pazzini's third
Pazzini made it three goals in as many games as he opened the scoring in Italy's final game against Northern Ireland, and his 49th-minute effort was followed by Aquilani's second of the mini tournament to give Italy a 2-0 win.

Georgia second
Georgia won second place in the group with four points. Having drawn 1-1 with Northern Ireland in their opening game, goals from Irakli Modebadze and Martsvaladze gave them a 2-0 win against third-place finishers Latvia.

Latvia third
Latvia recovered from their opening-day blues to finish third in the group as Aleksejs Visnakovs' goal was enough to give them a 1-0 win against luckless Northern Ireland in their second game.