U19 European Championship: Italy open with impressive victory 2-0 over Serbia | OneFootball

Italy have started the European Under-19 Championship in Wales on the right foot, defeating Serbia 2-0 thanks to goals from Mattia Liberali and Jamal Iddrissou.

The Azzurrini are among the favourites for the tournament and opened up Group B, where they will then take on Croatia on July 2 and Ukraine on July 5.

Milan youth product Liberali, currently playing for Catanzaro in Serie B, drew the foul and then converted the early penalty after just 11 minutes.

There were a few scares on set plays, but Italy still came closest to a second goal when Coletta smacked his effort against the crossbar.

Iddrissou secured the 2-0 result at the 76th minute when completing a rapid counter-attack assisted by substitute Javison Idele.

Luck was on the side of coach Alberto Bollini when Vasilije Novicic’s free kick hit the frame of the goal moments later.

CAERNARFON, WALES – JUNE 29: Jamal Iddrissou of Italy scores his team’s second goal during the UEFA European Under-19 Championship 2026 match between Italy and Serbia on June 29, 2026 in Caernarfon, Wales. (Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images)

Italy 2-0 Serbia

Liberali pen 11 (I), Iddrissou 76 (I)

Italy: Pessina; Nardin, Natali, Verde, Cocchi (Marello 89); Liberali (Mantini 70), Sala, Comotto (Elimoghale 70); Coletta, Iddrissou, Mosconi (Idele 61)

Serbia: Carapic; Stojkovic, Hadzimujovic, Simic, S Petrovic; Novicic, Makevic (Rankovic 58), Milosavljevic; B Kostic (Zaric 58), Damjanovic (Borovina 73), Ciric (Subotic 73)