• Pio Esposito scored the only goal in Italy’s 1-0 victory against Luxembourg
• The Inter Milan centre-forward was making his eighth appearance for the national side
• Fifteen Italian players earned their first senior caps during the friendly match
• The result will help Italy climb the FIFA world rankings
• Esposito has now netted four times in eight games for the Azzurri

Italian striker Pio Esposito says he feels proud to guide his younger teammates after scoring the winner against Luxembourg. The Inter Milan centre-forward found the net in a friendly match that saw Italy field an experimental side.

Coach Luciano Spalletti selected eight debutants in his starting eleven. By the final whistle, fifteen players had made their first appearances for the national team. Esposito, however, was already playing his eighth senior match at just nineteen years old.

“I am happy to help the team secure this result,” Esposito told RAI Sport. “Even though this was a friendly, we approached it with serious effort and full concentration.”

The young forward has an impressive scoring record for Italy. He has found the net four times in only eight appearances. He says his role extends beyond just scoring goals.

“When I step onto the pitch, I try to give everything for the team,” he explained. “I want to help my teammates, not just score.”

Esposito also enjoyed supporting the debutants. He remembers his own first cap clearly. “It was wonderful to be near my teammates for their debuts. I was in their position a few months ago. I could see their excitement before the match and when they came onto the pitch.”

The victory carries importance despite being a friendly. Results against Luxembourg affect Italy’s position in the FIFA rankings. The players understood their responsibility.

“We carry big responsibility when we wear the Italy shirt,” Esposito added. “We are young players, but we have quality. We must prove ourselves in every single match.”

• Kenya moves up four spots to 102 in the latest FIFA rankings.
• The rise follows a 2-1 victory over Malawi in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.
• Harambee Stars now sit 24th in Africa and third in their qualifying group.

Kenya’s Harambee Stars have climbed four places to 102 in the newest FIFA world rankings released on Thursday. The jump comes after the national side beat Malawi 2-1 in a 2026 World Cup qualifier played in Lilongwe last week.

The win lifted Kenya to 1,223 ranking points, up from 1,201 in March. It also pushed the team two places higher in Africa, from 26th to 24th, and kept them third in Group F of the qualifiers behind Ivory Coast and Gabon.

Coach Engin Firat praised the players for the result, saying the ranking rise shows the squad is moving in the right direction. “Every positive result helps us rebuild confidence,” Firat told reporters in Nairobi. “We still have work to do, but the boys deserve credit.”

Kenya’s next match is a tricky away trip to Gabon in June. A win there could lift the Stars even higher and strengthen their push for a first-ever World Cup appearance.