News Focus
- Silvio Baldini became emotional and cried when speaking about his pet dog during his first press conference as interim Italy coach
- The 62-year-old has selected a young squad with many uncapped players for the friendly against Luxembourg on Wednesday
- Baldini revealed he will not show his team videos of Luxembourg to help them play without pressure
- The interim appointment follows Gennaro Gattuso’s resignation after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup
- The match kicks off at the Stade de Luxembourg at 19:45 UK time (20:45 local time)
Interim Italy coach Silvio Baldini cried during his first press meeting before Wednesday’s friendly. He became very emotional when talking about his pet dog.
Baldini took charge of the senior team after Gennaro Gattuso left the job. Italy did not qualify for the World Cup after losing in the play-offs. The coach moved up from the Under-21 side to lead the team in two friendly matches. They face Luxembourg on Wednesday and Greece on Sunday.
The manager has chosen many young players who have never played for the national team before. He wants to build a new team for the future of Italian football. He praised their hard work and passion during training sessions.
Baldini said he did not show his players any videos of Luxembourg. He explained this is not rude to the opponents. Instead, he wants his team to play without stress and feel free on the pitch.
The coach also talked about the different backgrounds in his squad. He said many players come from families who moved to Italy. He noted this reflects modern Italian society. He praised how well the group works together.
The most emotional moment came when a reporter asked about dedicating a victory. Baldini said he would dedicate it to his daughter’s dog, a Maremma Sheepdog. The animal stayed loyal to him for six years when he had no job. Thinking about the dog made him cry, and he had to stop the press meeting early. He knows some people might laugh at this, but the dog was very important to him.
The match starts at the Stade de Luxembourg on Wednesday at 7:45 PM UK time.