U19 team guide: Italy

By Paolo Corradini

Holders Italy are once again among the favourites to clinch lift this summer's UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Switzerland.

Repeat performance
Italy will be hoping they can repeat last year's performance in neighbouring Liechtenstein when Paolo Berrettini's side won the tournament for the first time in their history. The Italians have been handed a tough draw in Group A, however, with the hosts Switzerland, Ukraine and a Belgium team who defeated the Italians 3-1 in the first qualifying round last October making up the opposition.

THE COACH:
Berrettini has held various posts within the Italian Football Federation over the past decade. Beginning with the national team's amatuer side, the 55-year-old moved on to the university team with whom he won the gold medal at the Palermo University Games in 1997 and the silver medal in Palma de Mallorca two years later.

Through the ages
He then moved on to coaching national youth teams in 2000, first taking charge at the UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup in 2000. After starting with the Under-16 side Berrettini has moved up the age levels, and this will be his fourth UEFA European Championship final tournament at youth level.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Italy's defence is dominated by FC Internazionale pair Devis Nossa and Paolo Herman Dellafiore. Argentinian-born Dellafiore has played in three finals of the Primavera Championship, the Italian youth cup competition.

Serie A experience
Simone Bentivoglio of Juventus FC and SSC Napoli's Gennaro Esposito are both highly rated playmakers, while in attack, Andrea Alberti is strong and tall and blessed with excellent technique. He made two Serie A appearances for Brescia Calcio last season.

ROUTE TO THE FINALS:
Despite their first qualifying round slip against Belgium, Italy made it through to the second round where they were grouped with Israel, Belarus and the Czech Republic and remained unbeaten as they secured a berth in this summer's tournament.

Comfortable qualification
Two goals from Simone Benitvoglio earned a 2-0 success against Israel, before US Avellino striker Antonio Sorrentino contributed a hat-trick in a 4-1 win against Belarus, with Alberti getting the other from the spot. The same player then contibuted another penalty against the Czech Republic in the final qualifier as Italy earned the point they needed to guarantee progress with a 1-1 draw.

Honours in UEFA youth competitions:
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Winners 2003
UEFA European Under-18 Championship
Runners-up 1986, 1995, 1999
UEFA European Under-16 Championship
Winners 1982

Other honours:
International Youth Tournament
Winners 1958, 1966
Runners-up 1959