Interim Italy head coach Silvio Baldini has announced his intention to select only players from the U21 squad for the upcoming friendly matches in June against Luxembourg and Greece. He also commented on the challenge faced by Serie A coaches in balancing the pursuit of victories with providing opportunities for younger talent.
Baldini will manage the Italian team in two away fixtures: against Luxembourg on June 3 and against Greece on June 7. These games are scheduled to fill the spots that would have been used for World Cup warm-up matches had Italy qualified.
Following their failure to qualify for the World Cup, which resulted in the departure of head coach Gennaro Gattuso, Italy is expected to field a youthful squad for these friendlies. Baldini has confirmed that all these players will indeed come from the U21 team.
“As the coach of the U21s, and following Gennaro Gattuso’s resignation, I will exclusively select players from the U21 squad for the two friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece. This is a logical step, not an act of bravery,” stated Baldini during the presentation of the Maurizio Maestrelli Award on Tuesday.
“One must be adept at identifying the right individuals. When the offer was made, I informed President Gravina: ‘I accept, but I will bring the U21s.’ My goal is to showcase my work and also highlight these young talents.”
Recent reports suggest that national team captain Gianluigi Donnarumma has made himself available for these June matches, though it is yet to be confirmed if he will be included in the squad.
Baldini’s Views on Youth Development Challenges in Italy
Baldini also reflected on his extensive coaching career, which has seen him hold 20 different head coach positions, with only one stint lasting longer than two seasons.
“Everyone has their unique journey. I’ve followed my own path, which I wouldn’t describe as overly complex, but I’ve encountered specific situations from a young age and have always been vigilant, always defending myself. When such circumstances arise, I recognize that I perform at my worst, so it’s often better to step away,” he explained.
The interim CT then shared his perspectives on the current issues surrounding the Italian national team and the ongoing debate about providing more playing time for young players in Serie A.
“These young individuals need to grasp that to become complete players, they must play for the collective and function as a cohesive unit. To be a team, one must adhere to rules. These aren’t arbitrary impositions; rather, they foster greater discipline.”
“We frequently discuss the imperative for young players to gain experience and for coaches to show courage, yet simultaneously, we emphasize that results are paramount. If you don’t win, the developmental process is often disregarded. It’s difficult to impress upon individuals that the objective isn’t solely about achieving a victory.”
“We all maintain that winning is what counts, not just participation, and that second place signifies the first loser. If we continue with this mentality, how can we possibly expect to foster the growth of young players, encourage their courage, and alleviate their fear? It is a significant challenge to reconcile these two objectives.”
“I have been coaching for many years and have found myself in a situation I never anticipated.”