Interim Italy coach Silvio Baldini has assembled a virtually new squad for friendly matches against Luxembourg and Greece, featuring Samuele Inacio and Filippo Mane from Borussia Dortmund.
These matches were organized by the Azzurri following their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, after losing a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-offs.
With Gennaro Gattuso having resigned and no permanent coach yet appointed, Italy has brought in Under-21 coach Baldini to lead the team for these two friendly fixtures.
The games are scheduled for June 3 in Luxembourg and June 7 in Crete.
Baldini explained that there was no point in calling up players from the usual Azzurri roster, so the focus would be solely on younger prospects, many of whom are receiving their first opportunity at the senior international level.
The sole exception is captain Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Manchester City goalkeeper, who is considered the “guide” for the younger players. The squad boasts an average age of 20 years and six months.
Other players who have previously represented the Nazionale include Pietro Comuzzo, Marco Palestra, Niccolò Pisilli, and Francesco Pio Esposito.
Among the notable new faces are Davide Bartesaghi from Milan, Atalanta’s Honest Ahanor, and Francesco Camarda.
It is also noteworthy how many players are currently playing abroad, with Fabio Chiarodia at Borussia Mönchengladbach, Filippo Mane, Luca Reggiani, and Samuele Inacio all at Borussia Dortmund, and Luca Koleosho for Paris FC.
Italy Squad for Luxembourg and Greece Games
Goalkeepers: Giovanni Daffara (Avellino), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Lorenzo Palmisani (Frosinone);
Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Atalanta), Davide Bartesaghi (Milan), Fabio Chiarodia (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Pietro Comuzzo (Fiorentina), Costantino Favasuli (Catanzaro), Filippo Mane (Borussia Dortmund), Marco Palestra (Cagliari), Luca Reggiani (Borussia Dortmund);
Midfielders: Matteo Dagasso (Venezia), Giacomo Faticanti (Juventus), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Cher Ndour (Fiorentina), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Lorenzo Venturino (Roma);
Forwards: Francesco Camarda (Lecce), Luigi Cherubini (Sampdoria), Jeff Ekhator (Genoa), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Seydou Fini (Frosinone), Samuele Inacio (Borussia Dortmund), Luca Koleosho (Paris FC).