Official Italy squad for U21 European Championship

epa10680563 Cesare Casadei of Italy celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the FIFA U-20 World Cup semifinal soccer match between Italy and South Korea, in La Plata, Argentina, 8 June 2023. EPA-EFE/DEMIAN ALDAY ESTEVEZ

The 23-man Italy squad to participate in the European Under-21 Championship has been announced, including Cesare Casadei and Diego Coppola, but Francesco Pio Esposito is out injured.

The tournament runs from June 11 to 28 in Slovakia.

The Azzurrini are in Group A and will open against Romania on June 11, then face hosts Slovakia on June 14 before the final game of this phase with Spain on June 17.

The top two from each group go into the quarter-finals, which are played on June 21 and 22.

Italy begin U21 Euros adventure

Coach Carmine Nunziata had called up Spezia striker Francesco Pio Esposito, but he has been ruled out of the competition due to an injury.

Pisa defender Giovanni Bonfanti and Sassuolo midfielder Cristian Volpato were also cut from the long list.

Torino midfielder Casadei and Verona defender Diego Coppola are currently with the senior squad for the World Cup qualifiers with Norway and Moldova, but will join the U21 side after June 10.

Italy squad for U21 European Championship

Goalkeepers: 1 Sebastiano Desplanches (Palermo), 22 Jacopo Sassi (Crotone), 12 Gioele Zacchi (Latina);

Defenders: 15 Diego Coppola (Hellas Verona), 6 Daniele Ghilardi (Hellas Verona), 19 Gabriele Guarino (Carrarese), 13 Michael Kayode (Brentford), 5 Lorenzo Pirola (Olympiacos), 3 Matteo Ruggeri (Atalanta), 16 Riccardo Turicchia (Juventus), 2 Mattia Zanotti (Lugano);

Midfielders: 23 Alessandro Bianco (Monza), 8 Cesare Casadei (Torino), 18 Issa Doumbia (Venezia), 14 Giovanni Fabbian (Bologna), 21 Jacopo Fazzini (Empoli), 7 Cher Ndour (Fiorentina), 20 Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), 4 Matteo Prati (Cagliari);

Forwards: 9 Giuseppe Ambrosino (Frosinone), 11 Tommaso Baldanzi (Roma), 10 Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds United), 17 Luca Koleosho (Burnley).