Italy's national team will conclude a disappointing season with two low-key friendlies against Greece and Luxembourg, but the matches carry significant weight for the future. With the Azzurri having failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, these fixtures serve as a laboratory for young talent under the guidance of Under-21 coach Silvio Baldini.
Baldini, temporarily at the helm of the senior side, has seized the opportunity to cast a wide net among Italy's emerging stars. His squad list, released on May 25, is almost exclusively composed of players eligible for the U21 category, marking a deliberate shift toward generational renewal.
The exceptions are few but telling. Captain Gianluigi Donnarumma, now at Manchester City, will provide experience between the posts, while Inter's Francesco Pio Esposito—already a fixture in the senior setup—adds a proven goal-scoring threat. Their presence offers leadership to a group that otherwise averages barely 20 years of age.
In goal, alongside Donnarumma, Baldini has called up two U21 keepers: Giovanni Daffara of Avellino and Lorenzo Palmisani of Frosinone. Daffara's inclusion is particularly intriguing. The Juventus-owned shot-stopper has spent the season on loan in Serie B, and his performances have put him in line for a return to Turin. His call-up signals both club and country have high hopes for his development.
The defensive unit features several names familiar to fans of Italian youth football. Atalanta's Honest Ahanor, Milan's Davide Bartesaghi, and Fiorentina's Pietro Comuzzo are among the most promising center-backs. Borussia Dortmund duo Filippo Mane and Luca Reggiani represent the growing trend of Italians moving abroad early. Fabio Chiarodia, now at Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Cagliari's Marco Palestra round out a versatile backline. Costantino Favasuli of Catanzaro is allowed to join the camp late due to club commitments.
In midfield, the spotlight shines on Giacomo Faticanti. The 20-year-old is currently on loan at Juventus Next Gen from Lecce, but the Bianconeri hold an option to make the deal permanent. His call-up may accelerate that process, as he auditions on a bigger stage. He is joined by Sassuolo's Luca Lipani, Fiorentina's Cher Ndour—a former PSG academy product—Roma pair Niccolò Pisilli and Lorenzo Venturino, and Venezia's Matteo Dagasso. This group blends physicality with technique, a necessity for modern football.
The attacking options carry equal excitement. Samuele Inacio, another Borussia Dortmund prospect, is one of the most dynamic forwards in the squad. Alongside him, Inter's Esposito, Genoa's Jeff Ekhator, Sampdoria's Luigi Cherubini, Frosinone's Seydou Fini, Paris FC's Luca Koleosho, and Lecce's Francesco Camarda—the latter a record-breaker as the youngest Serie A debutant—provide a wealth of offensive firepower. Camarda, still only 18, is already a regular in Serie B and considered a future star.
For Juventus, the double call-up of Daffara and Faticanti is a timely boost. Daffara's development at Avellino has been closely monitored, and his return could challenge for a backup role behind the established starters. Faticanti, meanwhile, represents a classic modern midfielder—comfortable in possession, with an eye for a pass—and Juventus's option to buy suggests they view him as a long-term asset. These friendlies could serve as an internal scouting opportunity, as much as a national team experiment.
Beyond club interests, the broader implication is clear: Italy is pressing the reset button. The failure to reach the 2026 World Cup was a historic low, and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has made youth development a priority. Baldini's temporary role may evolve into something more permanent if these auditions prove successful, or he may simply lay the groundwork for the next senior coach. Either way, the message is that the old guard is fading, and fresh faces must step up.
The friendlies against Greece and Luxembourg will not draw huge crowds or television ratings, but they offer a rare, pressure-free environment to test combinations and systems. For the players, it's a chance to stake a claim for future competitive matches, perhaps even the European Championship qualifiers on the horizon. For Baldini, it's an opportunity to imprint his philosophy on a group that could form the spine of Italy's next decade.
As the summer break looms, these two matches are Italy's last act before a period of reflection. The squad will assemble, train, and then disperse, but the impressions left could resonate for years. Names like Inacio, Daffara, and Faticanti were once just youth level curiosities; now they are one step from becoming household names.
Based on reporting from Tuttosport.
