Uruguay 1-0 Italy: summary, score, goals, highlights FIFA U20 World Cup final
Uruguay - Italy: as it happened
A totally deserved win for La Celeste as they dominated the action from the off and Italy had no answer to match their high intensity pressing game.
Chances were few and far between in the first half but they fell the way of the South American side with Italy keeper Sebastiano Desplanches keeping his side in the game.
The pattern continued in the second half as Uruguay throttled the Italian side and just when it seemed that the final would be destined for extra time, Liverpool (URU) striker Luciano Rodriguez was well placed to nod home at the back post to delight the 38,000 Charrua fans who packed into the Estadio La Plata (Argentina).
That's it ...the whistle sounds and Uruguay win the U20 World Cup for the first time ever.
Nerves now for the Celeste fans as Italy win a dangerous free.
The keeper even thinks about adding to the attack.
Uruguay break with five sky shirts through and the Italy keeper saves the day.
The ref tonight warrants a mention as he has been excellent.
Letting the game flow and right up with the play to make the big calls.
Italy still yet to register a single shot on target in 97 minutes of football !
Uruguay fans now in full celebration mode in the stands as the goal scorer Rodriguez seems to have sustained a hamstring injury and will be subbed.
Homemchenko is replacement.
Massive urgency from Italy now as the clock ticks down.
Uruguay well worth their lead and the Charruas now have one hand on the trophy.
A yellow for Italy who are now ragged.
Antoni on the bench gets carded for protesting.
We'll have 11 minutes of time added on.
Italy subs
Off: Baldanzi and Giovane
On: Pisilli and Lipani
Card for Italy as Matturro gets a clip from Zanotti.
What tension as VAR continue to study and .... the goal is given.
Hang on a minute as there is a VAR check in place ....
A scramble of a goal as the ball falls to Rodriguez who nods home at the back post.
Last five as Uruguay finally get the breakthrough.
Gooooooooooooooool.
La Plata erupts
Wow ! The ref amends his decision and it's just a yellow card for the Italian who is very, very lucky to still be on the pitch.
The ref is going to consult the VAR monitor.
I'd be surprised if that is overturned.
Certainly looks like a straight red!
A straight red for Prati for a nasty challenge from the SPAL man.... once again a good call from the Swede for a reckless and dangerous challenge from the Italian.
Italy yet to muster a shot on target throughout the contest.
Baldanzi shoots and wins a corner with a rare foray forward for the men in white.
Just 15' remain as Italy win a dangerous free.
38,000 confirmed as the official attendance.
Montevago is down clutching his head which forces the Swedish referee to halt the action.
Diaz shoots but Sebastiano Desplanches was down well to gather.
Don't forget, should we get to the 90 minute mark with a 0-0 scoreline, then we'll have a further 30 minutes of extra time to try and get a winner.
Italy on the ropes again as they have to defend yet another corner (7-1 in favour of the sky blues).
Important that Uruguay keep a cool head and don't let the lack of a goal become a frustration.
What a run from Gonzalez as he skips past two Italy defenders and Rodriguez just unable to get a touch on the ball in the box.
Uruguay sub
Off: Duarte and Ferrari is his replacemnt
Sebastiano Desplanches looks to be in a bad way as he was kicked on the knee by the striker.
Duarte too is back on his feet and we seem good to go again.
Matturro heads and the ball almost loops into the corner of the Italy net.
As we approach the hour mark, the pattern of the game remains the same....
Duarte and the Italian keeper collide again and play is briefly held up as the medical team are called on to the pitch.
Italy subs
Off: Ambrosino and Pafundi
On: Esposito and Montevago
Italy seem second to everything.
La Celeste have to translate this dominance into a goal though.
Uruguay are still full of vigor and their high press allows Italy absolutely no time to enjoy time on the ball.
Uruguay press again and win the first corner of the half.
Italy manage to clear the danger but already we're seeing a similar pattern to that of the first 45'... Uruguay press and Italy on the backfoot.
Ambrosino carded as he feigns a foul and a great spot from the Swedish official.
La Celeste start the second half.
Italy sub:
Zanotti on for Faticanti
A bright 45' of football, almost exclusively dominated by Uruguay with the South American side unlucky not to be ahead.
Duarte came closest forcing an excellent stop from Italy keeper Sebastiano Desplanches but the side in sky will feel disappointed that their domination has not translated into a lead.
Corner for Italy.
Last chance for the Azzurri at the end of the half but Uruguay manager to clear and Duarte breaks at the other end of the pitch.
Rodriguez fouled at the edge of the box. Danger for Italy at the end of the half. Diaz takes and the ball is cleared and the whistle sounds.
Into added time, we'll have three minutes extra at the end of the half.
It's still all Uruguay as they look to hurt Italy on both flanks.
Still no goal for the South American side despite all their domination.
Play held up now as Sebastiano Desplanches is clipped by Duarte.
The Uruguay striker also feeling the effects of the collision.
Into the final five minutes as Uruguay press and look for a way through.
Another corner for Uruguay as Diaz's shot is deflected.
This time Italy defend well and clear the danger.
Guarino carded as he leads with an elbow and clips Rodriguez.
De los Santos does really well as he robs the ball back, the River Plate (URU) man drills a dangerous ball into the box but Duarte just fails to latch on to the delivery.
The referee is having a good game letting the play flow and only blowing up for clear fouls.
Approaching the half hour mark and it's still Uruguay who dominate.
No letup in the tempo of the action as Gonzalez now has a shot but it goes tanely wide.
What a save from Desplanches as he palms away a fine Duarte header.
Excellent effort and a stunning stop from the Italian stopper.
Best chance of the night!
Despite La Celeste being the better side, it's Italy who dominate the possession stats with 63% for the European side as opposed to the 37 (%) for the South American side.
4 shots now from Uruguay versus the 0 from the Azzurri.
Better from the Italian side in the past few minutes as they press and for the first time of the game have Uruguay on the backfoot.
Italy break and Garcia fouls Baldanzi and Pafundi is over the ball with the free.
The Empoli player crosses as Italy appeal for handball.
The ball does clip Boselli on the arm.... but does anyone understand the handball rule these days?
Diaz again with another fine strike but this one veers wide.
Uruguay really pressing and Rodriguez Lucas in the Celeste goal a virtual spectator so far.
Diaz now goes close for La Celeste who are really posing problems as the ball clips the back stanchion.
It's a bright open start from both teams as Uruguay win a dangerous free-kick some distance out.
Rodriguez to shoot from 30m out...
Decent hit from the Danubio man as the ball goes wide.
What a strike from Matturro as the Uruguay left back catches a long field ball beautifully but just fails to secure accuracy.
Bright start from the men in sky blue as Italy are pegged deep inside their own half.
Both sides endeavouring to play the ball around on the surface despite the fact the ball is skipping off the uneven surface.
Giovane with a very, very robust challenge and the Ascoli player is lucky not to escape with a card.
Off we go... Italy start the action.
Plenty of noise being generated by the La Celeste fans present in La Plata as both team captains fulfil their pre game protocol.
The pitch does not look in great shape it has to be said.... Too many games, no rainfall and freezing overnight temperatures have led to a bobbly surface.
National anthem time as we see FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the VIP area.
The Swiss will be on hand to present the trophy to the winning captain in 90/120 minutes.
The World Cup trophy is brought to the pitch by Maxi Rodriguez with a full house at the stadium.
80% or so of the crowd are from Uruguay with the trip to La Plata just a ferry ride away.
The teams are in the tunnel.... Italy in their away white kit with 'home side' Uruguay in their sky shirts and black shorts.
Team news reminder
As we drift towards kick-off in La Plata, a reminder of how the Uruguay and Italy teams start ahead of the 2023 final.
Less than half an hour to go to kick-off as fans start to take their seats at the Estadio de la Plata.
La Plata final weather
It's a fresh but clear night in the Argentine city with a temperature of 9C-49F expected at kick-off with 0% chance of rain during the contest.
Extra time and penalties a possibility
Given Uruguay’s mean defence at the tournament so far - the South Americans have kept five clean sheets out of a possible six - we expect this to be a tight, low-scoring affair.
This could go all the way.. 120 minutes a possibility with even a shoot out on the cards if we don't have a winner after potential extra time.
La Celeste XI announced
Marcelo Bari has named his team ahead of the final with Duarte and De Los Santos two of the key players to keep an eye on.
Italy XI confirmed
Carmine Nunziata has named his side ahead of the final with free-kick specialist Pafundi and top scorer in the tournament Casadei on seven goals.
Both teams played in 2017 in the U20 competition with La Celeste winning the Group D game 0-1 but Italy secured a revenge of sorts with a 1-4 penalty win to secure the bronze medal.
The Estadio de la Plata is a 53,000 seater stadium which has hosted games for both Argentina rugby and soccer teams and has also hosted a series of concerts with the likes of U2, Guns n' Roses and Metallica packing out the stadium.
With both semi-final games and the earlier 3/4th place games being played at the Estadio La Plata, the playing surface has taken something of a battering and is not in great shape.
Fingers crossed the state of the pitch doesn't hamper the final.
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Pafundi’s late goal in Italy’s 2-1 win over South Korea in the Under-20 World Cup sent his side to the final.
Italy do start tonight's game as favourites with all eyes set to fall on Cesare Casadei.
The Chelsea player is currently on loan at EFL side Reading but has hit the headlines in Argentina with his goal scoring prowess.
Israel claim bronze
Very much surprise package of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Israel have claimed the bronze medal at the competition with a 3-1 win over South Korea.
U20 WC final: referee
Swedish match official Glenn Nyberg has been enlisted to oversee the action tonight in La Plata. The 35-year-old became a professional referee in 2008 and has overseen Allsvenskan games since 2013 and a full international referee for FIFA since 2016
Italy expects
Anticipation is high in Italy ahead of the U20 final with the senior team in action next week in the UEFA Nations League Final Four which will be staged in the Netherlands.
Uruguay dressing room ready
The South American side will sport their classic sky blue shirts for the final in La Plata tonight.
Road to the final: Italy
Carmine Nunziata's side finished second in their group behind Brazil and overcame England in the Round of 16 clash. Colombia were beaten in the quarterfinals with a 3-1 win and a goal from tournament top marksman Cesare Casadei helped the Azzurri on their way to a 2-1 semi-final triumph over South Korea.
Road to the final: Uruguay
After a second place finish in Group E, La Celeste needed a late winner to overcome Gambia in the Round of 16. The South Americans delivered a major shock in easing past the highly fancied US team with a comprehensive 2-0 quarter-final win before beating tournament surprise package Israel in the semi-final with a Duarte goal in the 61st minutes enough to separate the teams.
Italy: team news
Italy are expected to field the same side that eliminated South Korea at the semi-final stage with super sub Simone Pafundi expected to be called upon in the second half.
Uruguay: team news
Uruguay head coach Marcelo Broli has a welcome selection headache as Luciano Rodriguez is back at his disposal, having served a two-game ban, while Andres Ferrari returned from injury in the semi-finals, coming on at half-time and helping to turn the game. Juan de los Santos and Anderson Duarte, both of whom began Argentina 2023 on the bench, have seemingly made starting spots their own, so the Uruguay coach could elect to bench Ignacio Sosa and turn a 4-5-1 into a 4-4-2.
Whatever the outcome tonight in La Plata, a new name will be engraved on the trophy with neither Uruguay or Italy previous winners.
La Celeste made the final in 1997 and 2103 but were on the losing end with Italy securing the bronze medal in 2017.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the FIFA U20 World Cup final as Uruguay face Italy in La Plata (Argentina).