Italy’s national team steps into a new chapter this week, with interim head coach Silvio Baldini at the helm following the country’s third consecutive failure to qualify for a World Cup. The Azzurri missed the 2026 tournament in North America, a devastating blow that led to the departure of Rino Gattuso and forced the Italian federation to look inward for solutions. Baldini, who has been guiding the Under-21 side, now oversees two friendly matches that carry symbolic weight: the first step of a long rebuild. Already, his first squad selection signals a deliberate shift toward youth.
Baldini wasted no time in addressing the emotional weight of the moment. “I felt it in that month when they told me what my new role would be,” he shared with Sky Sport. “But once I set foot at Coverciano, I said: we have to play, we have to try to do well and that’s it.” The 66-year-old former Pescara and Palermo manager is known for his fiery, no-nonsense approach, and he emphasized that the focus must be on performance, not sentiment. Italy faces Luxembourg on Wednesday, June 3 at 20:45 local time at Stade de Luxembourg, followed by another test against Greece on Sunday, June 7. Both opponents, while not top-tier, provide a safe environment to experiment with new faces and ideas.
The interim coach made it clear he trusts the emerging generation. “There is a lot to work on, but there are excellent players in this group who already play in Serie A,” Baldini said, name-checking the likes of Pisilli and Palestra as talents ready to make the jump. He also praised the attitude of established figures like Gianluigi Donnarumma and young striker Pio Esposito, who both approached the camp with remarkable humility. “They made themselves available, they thanked the group for being accepted with enthusiasm. Seeing these guys so down-to-earth and attached to the national team is heartwarming – they felt like they were on the same level,” Baldini noted. That sense of unity and absence of hierarchy could be precisely what Italy needs after years of disjointed campaigns.
The most eye-catching inclusion is Fiorentina’s midfield prospect Cher Ndour, who earned his maiden senior call-up on May 25. The 22-year-old represents a statement of intent from Baldini: Italy cannot afford to overlook its young talent pool any longer. Ndour, speaking to reporters, exuded both gratitude and determination. “I believe Italy has young players – we’ve shown it in recent years with the Under-21 side. Unfortunately we didn’t qualify for the World Cup, and it hurts. I was the biggest fan, but we can’t let ourselves get down. We have to start again and keep working,” he said.
Ndour’s comments echoed a growing sentiment that Italian football must modernize its development pathway. He specifically advocated for the introduction of Under-23 “B” teams, a model common across Europe that clubs like Inter and Milan are reportedly considering. “It’s an excellent idea. Abroad it exists almost everywhere, and for the growth of young players we have to start again from this as well,” Ndour argued. The move could bridge the gap between Primavera youth football and senior competition, a missing rung that has long hindered the transition to top-flight football in Italy.
On a personal level, Ndour opened up about his footballing idol: former Juventus star Paul Pogba. “I’ve always admired him, he’s been my idol since I was a kid, ever since he arrived at Juve. I even wanted to get my hair cut like him,” the midfielder admitted with a smile. He acknowledged a stylistic resemblance, but was quick to add: “I think there’s a bit of similarity in playing style, but I’m me and he’s him. He’s won a World Cup and done great things; I hope to reach the highest possible level.” These words reveal a player grounded in ambition yet respectful of the journey ahead.
Ndour’s multicultural background also shapes his identity. His mother is Italian, his father Senegalese, but he has spent nearly his whole life in Italy. “My culture is practically all Italian,” he explained. Yet he remains deeply connected to Senegal, visiting relatives there regularly. With Italy absent from the World Cup, Ndour will throw his support behind the Lions of Teranga: “I’ll be cheering for them, unfortunately Italy isn’t there.” It’s a poignant reminder of how far the Azzurri have fallen – a four-time world champion now on the outside looking in.
Reflecting on his formative stint at Paris Saint-Germain in the 2023/24 season – where he made four Ligue 1 appearances and scored a Coupe de France goal – Ndour credited coach Luis Enrique with accelerating his growth. “It helped me a lot to mature as a footballer and above all as a person. Luis Enrique is special, he works with passion. You sense he’s a different kind of person, and I learned so much from him, even just in training sessions and meetings. He deserves what he is achieving,” Ndour said. That experience, though brief, appears to have instilled a professional maturity that can only benefit Italy in the long run.
The twin friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece, then, serve as a laboratory for Baldini’s new Italy. The results will matter less than the performance and the integration of fresh legs into a stale system. With talents like Ndour, and the broader U21 nucleus graduating, there is cautious optimism that the Azzurri can navigate a path back to relevance. The road to the 2030 World Cup is long, but Baldini’s temporary reign could lay the foundation for whoever takes over permanently. For now, the message is clear: the future is young, and it starts now. Based on reporting from Tuttosport.
