News from the European Youth Flag Football Championship Tournament

Thursday, September 4, 2025

We are happy to report that the Italian National U15 Mixed, U17 Girls and U17 Boys Flag Football teams are all enjoying a successful run in Group Play of the European Championships being held in Innsbruck, Austria this weekend.

Head Coach Enzo Petrillo

Enzo, our old friend from our Varese Skorpions days, is in charge of the Italian Azzurri squads. All Italian National teams, regardless of sport, wear blue uniforms thus the team nickname that translates into The Blues.

He is being ably assiated by fellow Skorpions Nency Petrillo and Maurizio D.J. Digennaro.

Italy is competing in all three divisions this weekend.

There are six teams in the

U15 Mixed Team - Group B

Azzurri is 1-0 after a solid

win over the Brits

The Azzurri nips the Spanish team,

now 2-0 in Group B play

After a comfortable win over war

torn Ukraine, the Azzurri are now 3-0

Hammering the Finland team

brings the Azzurri to 4-0

No compassion vs. the French to finish

a perfect 5-0 in U15 Mixed Group B play

On to the U17 Girls tournament . . .

There are but four teams in the

U17 Girls Group A

A competitive game vs. Spain

to open Group A play, Azzurri is 1-0

Another solid victory as the

Azzurri is now 2-0

Another big win at France's

expense, as the Azzurri finishes their

Group A play unblemished at 3-0

Finally, the U17 Boys results . . .

Six countries are represented in the

U17 Boys Group B

An easy win, Azzurri start 1-0

The Czech Republic hands the Italians

their first loss, Azzurri now 1-1

The Spanish boys were also tough,

Azzurri drops to 1-2

Italians decimate the Ukraine team,

Azzurri improves to 2-2

The French take it on the chin again,

as the Azzurri goes 3-2 in Group B play

The three Azzurri squads acquitted themselves nicely in going a combined 11-2 in Group play.

On to the tournament's knockout rounds the next few days.

Azzurri vs. Team Czech Republic

In case you are in Padua, Italy in a couple of weeks and have a hankering for a U19 Tackle game football game, this game should be highly competitive.

As for me, I'm looking forward to a good high school football game on Friday night, Newbury Park Panthers (1-1) at Pacifica Tritons (2-0). Both squads won C.I.F.-Southern Section Championships last year before losing their California State Semifinal playoff games. This one should be a DANDY!