Italy U17 Dominate Montenegro U17 to Open UEFA European Championship Campaign

The Italy Under-17 national team kicked off their UEFA European U17 Football Championship campaign in emphatic style on 29 May 2026, cruising to a 3-0 victory over Montenegro U17 at a neutral venue. The Azzurrini showcased their technical superiority and clinical finishing, leaving little doubt about their ambitions in the tournament.

Match Summary

Italy asserted control from the opening minutes, pressing high and moving the ball with pace. Montenegro, making their first appearance in the competition’s group stage, struggled to cope with the intensity. The scoreline could have been even more lopsided had Italy not taken their foot off the gas in the final quarter of an hour.

First Half: Early Breakthrough

Italy’s dominance paid off in the 12th minute when midfielder Marco Rossi collected a pass on the edge of the box and curled a precise effort into the bottom corner. The goal settled any early nerves and allowed Italy to dictate the tempo. Montenegro’s best chance came from a set piece in the 28th minute, but defender Nikola Vukčević’s header sailed over the bar. Italy doubled their lead just before half-time: winger Luca Bianchi latched onto a through ball and slotted past the advancing goalkeeper with composure.

Second Half: Sealing the Win

The second half followed a similar pattern. Italy’s third goal arrived in the 54th minute when striker Alessandro Conti rose highest to meet a corner and powered a header into the net. Montenegro showed glimpses of fight but lacked the quality to trouble the Italian defence. Italy’s goalkeeper, Davide Galli, had a quiet afternoon, making only one routine save.

Standout Players

• Marco Rossi (Italy): The midfielder’s vision and passing set the tempo. His opening goal was a moment of real quality.
• Luca Bianchi (Italy): A constant threat on the wing, his pace and dribbling created numerous chances. Capped his performance with a well-taken goal.
• Nikola Vukčević (Montenegro): Despite the defeat, the Montenegrin defender made several important clearances and nearly scored from a corner.

Tournament Context

Italy are considered among the favourites for the UEFA European U17 Championship, having reached the semi-finals in the previous edition. This victory puts them in a strong position in Group A, with matches against Switzerland and Portugal still to come. Montenegro, after a creditable qualifying campaign, will need to regroup quickly if they are to keep their knockout stage hopes alive.

Statistic Spotlight: Italy had 63% possession and registered 14 shots (8 on target). Montenegro managed just 3 shots (1 on target). The clean sheet was Italy’s fifth in their last seven outings across all age-group competitions.