U21 | Italy 6-2 Poland: Audacious Ndour secures European ticket

EMPOLI, ITALY - MARCH 26: Cher Ndour of Italy U21 celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Under 21 EURO Qualifier match between Italy U21 and North Macedonia U21 at Stadio Carlo Castellani on March 26, 2026 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Italy marched their way confidently into the European Under-21 Championship after crushing Poland 6-2, including an incredible Cher Ndour lob from inside his own half.

The Azzurrini knew the only hope of topping the group was to win this final match by two clear goals in Pescara, therefore overturning the head to head difference created by their 2-1 loss back in November 2025. It was no mean feat, as Poland had a 100 per cent record, conceding two goals in nine games.

For the occasion, Honest Ahanor returned from the senior squad, with Milan’s Davide Bartesaghi and Alphadjo Cisse joining Como trequartista Mattia Liberali. On-form Frosinone striker Antonio Raimondo was ruled out injured.

There was a huge chance in the opening 90 seconds, with Cher Ndour’s header palmed off the line from six yards, followed by a similar Niccolò Pisilli opportunity.

The deadlock was broken when Liberali’s effort was charged down, landing at the feet of Luca Koleosho to fire into the roof of the net from six yards. The Burnley man needed that confidence booster after seeing a penalty saved in Armenia last week.

Poland tried to respond with Wojciech Urbanski testing Lorenzo Palmisani, but the Azzurrini got the much-needed second goal from a short corner routine, with Koleosho dinking it over the top for Liberali to volley back from the by-line for the Ndour header.

With this result, Italy went top of the group for direct qualification into the European Championship.

It was nearly 3-0 before half-time, as Liberali’s curler was deflected to thump the upright, while after the restart Filip Kocaba bravely flung himself in the way of a ferocious Bartesaghi volley.

Just as Poland were pushing hard, the hosts struck for a third with an extraordinary piece of improvisation. A corner was cleared, Ndour robbed Mateusz Kowalczyk and from well within his own half surprised Marcel Lubik with the most audacious lob. It was closer to his own penalty area than the Polish box.

Italy continued this rout when Koleosho robbed Kocaba and sent it through immediately for substitute Luca Lipani to fire in at the near post, just moments after setting foot on the pitch.

Poland did get one back when Drachal dribbled down the right and pulled back for the Daniel Mikolajewski tap-in from six yards.

However, Seydou Fini restored the four-goal cushion moments later when running onto the Lipani slide-rule pass down the right, cutting inside and finishing from 12 yards.

They all rushed to the sideline to hug coach Silvio Baldini, who struggled to hold back tears. It had been a very difficult year for him, losing his daughter after a long illness.

Poland knew their only chance now was to be one of the top runners-up and avoid the play-offs, so needed to reduce the goal deficit. It was a spectacular long-range Jakub Zewlakow strike into the far top corner with the inside of the right boot.

Once again, Italy responded immediately, as Luigi Cherubini robbed one player in the final third, dribbled past two more, and fired in for 6-2 with the right foot. It was the Roma talent’s first goal for the Under-21 side.

Koleosho 16 (I), Ndour 27, 54 (I), Lipani 59 (I), Mikolajweski 65 (P), Fini 66 (I), Zewlakow 85 (P), Cherubini 86 (I)

Italy U21: Palmisani; Ahanor, Comuzzo, Chiarodia, Bartesaghi; Pisilli, Faticanti (Lipani 56), Ndour; Liberali (Fini 56), Koleosho (Cherubini 79), Cisse (Camarda 62)

Poland U21: Lubik; Krajewski, Monka, Ede, Gurgul; Kowalczyk (Duda 72), Kocaba (Oyedele 65); Urbanski (Zewlakow 56), Mazurek, Pienko (Drachal 56); Bak (Mikolajewski 46)