Italy U17 crushes Luxembourg 6-0 with two Atalanta players starting
Rondelli in goal and Odje in defense guide the reigning European champions in their opening qualifier match. Borsa scores twice.
Italy, the reigning European champions, did not disappoint, demolishing Luxembourg 6-0 in the opening day of European qualifiers held in Abovyan. The squad of 2010-born players entrusted to coach Manuel Pasqual kicked off the tournament impressively, though the first half had told a different story: with only Gabriele Borsa's penalty goal in the tenth minute, the opening period remained balanced.
The second half unleashed all of Italy's attacking potential. Roberto Scaglione doubled the lead at 50', Michele Elena added the third at 61', and Borsa claimed his brace two minutes later. Cristian Sorrentino came off the bench to score at 89' on his sixteenth birthday, with Giuseppe Pipitozzi sealing the result in stoppage time.
Two Atalanta players played key roles in the victory: Filippo Rondelli started in goal and delivered a composed performance despite the one-sided scoreline, while Jeff Odje anchored the defense alongside his defensive partners. The campaign continues with Armenia on Saturday, ahead of the pivotal clash against France on Tuesday in Group 10, where the top two teams advance to the next round's League A.