Italy took a small but meaningful step toward redemption on Tuesday, as a new-look Azzurri side secured a 1-0 friendly victory over Luxembourg in Silvio Baldini's first match at the helm. The win, while modest on the surface, carries profound implications for a nation still reeling from the heartbreak of missing the 2026 World Cup.
The backdrop is inescapable: Italy's failure to qualify for the global showpiece, sealed by a devastating loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina under previous management, forced a complete reset. Enter Baldini, the veteran coach tasked with rebuilding the national team from the ground up, with an emphasis on youth and Under-21 talents. This friendly was his first opportunity to showcase that vision, and it delivered both a positive result and promising signs.
The match's defining moment arrived in the 49th minute, when Francesco Pio Esposito, the 21-year-old Inter striker, found the back of the net. Esposito, who has been torming in Serie A with loan side Spezia, is emblematic of the new generation Baldini is banking on. His composed finish was the difference, providing Italy with a lead they never relinquished against a determined but limited Luxembourg outfit.
Beyond the goal, the match offered a symbolic debut. At the 90th minute, 18-year-old Samuele Inacio entered the fray, earning his first senior cap for the Azzurri. The Borussia Dortmund prospect, still largely unknown to the wider public, represents the depth of talent Baldini hopes to cultivate. His cameo, however brief, signals the coach's commitment to blooding youngsters in real-match environments, a departure from Italy's recent reliance on established veterans.
The defensive shape held firm, with captain Gianluigi Donnarumma, one of the few carryovers from the previous regime, providing a calming presence. The AC Milan goalkeeper, who has embraced Baldini's project, was largely untroubled but showcased his leadership in organizing a backline that included multiple debutants and inexperienced players. The clean sheet will come as a relief for a team that has struggled for consistency at the back.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the international break, there were contrasting fortunes for World Cup-bound nations. The Netherlands, set to face Japan, Tunisia, and Sweden in Group F, suffered a late 1-0 defeat to Algeria. An 86th-minute strike from Hadj Moussa undid a Dutch side that had been dominant but wasteful in possession. For coach Ronald Koeman, the loss raises questions about his side's killer instinct ahead of the tournament. Donyell Malen, the Borussia Dortmund forward, was among those who failed to convert chances, leaving the Oranje vulnerable to a sucker punch.
Poland, also World Cup participants, battled to a 2-2 draw with Nigeria in a wildly entertaining affair. Terem Moffi opened the scoring for the Super Eagles in the 23rd minute, only for Kacper Potulski to level on the stroke of halftime. Nigeria regained the lead through Paul Onuachu's penalty in the 77th minute, but Poland's resilience shone through as Jakub Wisniewski notched a dramatic equalizer deep into stoppage time. Robert Lewandowski, the talismanic captain, was kept off the scoresheet but his mere presence galvanized a team that will need similar fight in the group stage.
In Liege, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Denmark played out a lifeless 0-0 draw. The friendly served as a World Cup warm-up for the Congolese, who will compete in Group K alongside Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Colombia. For Denmark, however, it was another reminder of what they will be missing; the Danes, shock absentees from the 2026 tournament, are in a period of soul-searching after a disappointing qualifying campaign.
Back in Italy, the narrow victory over Luxembourg will not silence all critics. A 1-0 scoreline against a team ranked 89th in the world is hardly a resounding statement. Yet the significance lies not in the margin but in the method. Baldini has promised a long-term project built on patience and development, and the sight of multiple Under-21 prospects seamlessly integrating into the senior setup is a tangible first milestone. Esposito's goal, Inacio's debut, and a clean sheet provide a foundation—however fragile—for what comes next.
The Azzurri's road to redemption is long and twisting. Without a World Cup to prepare for, the emphasis shifts to the UEFA Nations League and the next European Championship qualifying cycle. Every friendly now doubles as a laboratory for Baldini's tactics and talent identification. The challenge will be sustaining positive momentum when the stakes are low, and keeping a hungry young group united through inevitable setbacks.
For now, though, Italy can exhale. The Baldini era, however it ultimately unfolds, has begun with a win. And while Luxembourg is far from the superpowers the Azzurri once toppled en route to glory, any journey must start somewhere. The team bus left the stadium with three points, a debutant's smile, and the faintest whisper of hope—an invaluable currency for a football nation in need of a fresh narrative.
Based on reporting from Tuttosport.
