U21 | Italy vs. Poland – Confirmed line-ups for crucial EURO 2027 qualifier
CREMONA, ITALY - OCTOBER 14: Coach Silvio Baldini of Italy reacts during the UEFA Euro U21 Qualification match between Italy and Armenia at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 14, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
Silvio Baldini has confirmed his selections as the Italy U21s go head-to-head with Poland in a decisive qualifier for next year’s European Championship in what is a battle of first vs. second for a spot in the final tournament.
Kick-off is due at 17.15 BST.
Poland lead the group with a perfect record of nine victories from nine matches in qualifying, whilst Italy, who are guaranteed to finish no lower than second place, have 24 points after eight wins and a draw this campaign.
Whoever finishes top will qualify directly for the final tournament, which will be co-hosted by Albania and Serbia. Italy require a victory by two clear goals to overtake Poland into first.
Teams that finish in second place will still have a chance of qualifying for next summer’s European Championships. The best second-placed team from qualifying will also qualify directly for the final tournament, and Italy are still in with a chance of claiming that spot if they do finish behind Poland. Otherwise, they will enter an eight-team play-off round to determine the final four tournament places.
Baldini has made several alterations to his Azzurrini side following their late 1-0 victory against Armenia last week, bringing goalscorer Alphadjo Cisse into the starting line-up after his stoppage-time goal off the bench last time out. Mattia Liberali is also included in the front three. Francesco Camarda is named among the substitutes.
Fiorentina’s Cher Ndour and Roma’s Nicolo Pisilli keep their places in midfield, but are joined by Giacomo Faticanti, on loan at Avellino from Juventus, instead of Luca Lipani.
Honest Ahanor was originally called up to the senior Italy squad this international break, but has since dropped out of Roberto Mancini’s camp and has been made available to Baldini and the U21s for Monday’s crucial qualifier instead. He is brought into the four-man defence against Poland.
Italy (4-3-3): Palmisani; Ahanor, Comuzzo, Chiarodia, Bartesaghi; Pisilli, Faticanti, Ndour; Liverali, Koleosho, Cisse.
Poland: (4-2-3-1): Lubik; Krajewski, Monka, Ede, Gurgul; Kowalczyk, Kocaba; Urbanski, Mazurek, Pienko; Bak.
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