Interim coach Silvio Baldini has expressed indifference regarding the possibility of permanently leading the Italian national team, stating, “It doesn’t matter to me. I simply wanted to be useful.”
Baldini achieved a perfect record of two wins from two matches as Italy’s caretaker manager, securing victories against Luxembourg and Greece.
Both of Italy’s 1-0 wins were sealed by a goal from Inter talent Francesco Pio Esposito. The squad was notably young, with Gianluigi Donnarumma being the only established player among 19 debutants out of a total of 24.
“I wasn’t offering praise for the sake of it. I know the value of these players,” Baldini remarked after the match. He emphasized the importance of young players understanding rules as a resource for maturity and team development. “Now they just need to keep growing. I was hoping we would get a little bit of luck tonight as well, because luck matters in all aspects of life. I wanted them to gain confidence from this experience. Having rules and a proper lifestyle is not a punishment.”
When questioned by reporters about the public and pundit desire for him to continue as the senior team coach, Baldini responded, “Thank you, but what matters to me is doing my job well. Unfortunately, in football, people are quick to put labels on you.” He added, “I believe the best response to those labels is what these boys have shown on the pitch. I’m not someone who came out of nowhere. Fate brought me here, but the journey has been difficult.”
Pressed further on whether he would be open to coaching Italy from September, Baldini reiterated his stance: “It doesn’t matter to me. I simply wanted to be useful. I am part of the Italy family.” He explained his motivation for coaching these matches was to ensure his players received recognition for their achievements under his guidance.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is scheduled to elect a new president on June 22, 2026, after which a decision on the next Italy coach will be made.
Baldini also touched upon Italy’s U17 European Championship victory, secured via penalties against Belgium. He concluded, “Our family, Italy, is built on certain principles, and all of our youth teams have consistently performed well and won trophies. The problem has always been the step from the Under-21s to the senior national team. I believe that step is less steep now after these displays.”