Baldanzi, Pisilli and Miretti included in exciting Italy U21 squad

Tommaso Baldanzi, Niccolo Pisilli and Fabio Miretti are among the Italy U21 stars called up for the upcoming international friendlies against the Netherlands and Demark U21 sides during the March international break. 

The Italy national team and U21 squads for the upcoming international break were officially confirmed on Friday. 

• Read more: Spalletti confirms 23-man Italy squad for Germany 

The Azzurrini will play against Netherlands U21s at the Pier Luigi Penzo stadium in Venezia on March 21, and then against Denmark in Cittadella on March 24. 

There is a particularly experienced set of midfielder called up to represent the U21s, including Pisilli and Miretti, who have both already been capped at senior level, plus Bologna’s Fabbian, Fiorentina’s Cher Ndour, Roma’s Tommaso Baldanzi and Udinese’s Simone Pafundi. 

There is a return for Burnley forward Luca Koleosho, who joins fellow EFL Championship representative Wilfried Gnonto up front. Empoli striker Sebastiano Esposito is also back in the U21 squad alongside his brother Francesco Pio of Spezia. 

Confirmed Italy U21 squad for Netherlands and Denmark 

Goalkeepers: Desplanches (Palermo), Sassi (Modena), Zacchi (Latina). 

Defenders: Angori (Pisa), Bertola (Spezia), Coppola (Verona), Ghilardi (Verona), Palestra (Atalanta), Pirola (Olympiacos), Turicchia (Juventus Next Gen), Zanotti (Lugano). 

Midfielders: Baldanzi (Roma), Bianco (Monza/Fiorentina), Doumbia (Venezia), Fabbian (Bologna), Miretti (Genoa/Juventus), Ndour (Fiorentina), Pafundi (Udinese), Pisilli (Roma), Prati (Cagliari), Volpato (Sassuolo). 

Forwards: Ambrosino (Frosinone), F.P. Esposito (Spezia), S.Esposito (Empoli), Gnonto (Leeds), Koleosho (Burnley). 

#Under21 🇮🇹

I 2️⃣6️⃣ #Azzurrini convocati da Carmine #Nunziata per le sfide contro Paesi Bassi e Danimarca 📋💙#VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/yM8Y8IvAoQ

— Nazionale Italiana ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri) March 14, 2025