News Focus
- Interim coach Silvio Baldini will pick only U21 players for Italy’s June friendly matches.
- The Azzurri face Luxembourg on June 3 and Greece on June 7 in away fixtures.
- The games replace World Cup warm-up slots after Italy failed to qualify.
- Previous head coach Gennaro Gattuso resigned following the play-off defeat to Bosnia.
- National team captain Gianluigi Donnarumma may be available despite the youth focus.
Silvio Baldini has confirmed he will use only Italy’s U21 squad for the upcoming friendly matches. The interim head coach takes charge of the senior side for games against Luxembourg and Greece next month.
Italy will travel to face Luxembourg on June 3. They will then play Greece on June 7. These matches fill the dates reserved for World Cup preparation games. However, the Azzurri missed the tournament after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final last March.
Gennaro Gattuso left his position as head coach following that defeat. Baldini, who coaches the U21 team, now leads the senior side temporarily. He says picking young players is a sensible choice, not a bold risk.
“This is an act of logic, not courage,” Baldini stated. He spoke at an awards event on Tuesday. “I told President Gravina I would bring the U21 players if I accepted the role. I want to show what these young men can do.”
Reports suggest that team captain Gianluigi Donnarumma wants to play in these games. It is not yet clear if Baldini will include him in the youthful squad.
The 67-year-old coach also spoke about his long career. He has held 20 different coaching jobs. He rarely stayed at any club for more than two years.
“Everyone has their own path,” Baldini explained. “I have always defended myself in difficult situations. When problems start, I know I do not react well. It is better to leave at that point.”
Baldini also talked about the problems facing Italian football. He believes Serie A clubs struggle to balance winning games with giving chances to young players.
“We say we want to help youngsters grow and be brave,” he said. “But we also say only results matter. If you do not win, nobody cares about your journey. It is difficult to teach that football is about more than just the final score.”
He added that young players must learn discipline and teamwork. They need to understand that respect for rules helps the group succeed.
“These players must learn to play for the team, not just themselves,” Baldini said. “Rules are not punishments. They make us more disciplined. We cannot expect young players to develop if we only care about winning.”