Italy are due to take on Greece in an international friendly on Sunday evening, and pre-match reports indicate that there will be opportunities for two new youngsters to make their full debuts for the Azzurri on the night.
Italy are under the leadership of interim head coach Silvio Baldini, who has been called in to take temporary charge following the resignation of Gennaro Gattuso earlier this year. A new, permanent CT will not be appointed before the FIGC Presidential elections take place on June 22.
Baldini usually serves as head coach of Italy’s U21 side, and with the senior side having failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, the interim head coach has decided to name a squad made up primarily of players he knows well from the youth set-up.
Of the 24 players that Baldini selected, only Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marco Palestra, Niccolo Pisilli and Pio Esposito had previously been capped at senior level before this week’s round of international friendlies.
Baldini’s temporary reign in charge of the Italy national team began with a 1-0 win away against Luxembourg on Wednesday evening thanks to a lone strike from Inter’s Esposito.