Italy has announced its 23-man squad for the upcoming friendly matches against Greece and Luxembourg, with a clear emphasis on youthful regeneration. With the Azzurri failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has entrusted Silvio Baldini – the current U21 head coach – to lead the senior side in these end-of-season tests, signaling a deliberate shift toward blooding the next generation.
Baldini’s selection is overwhelmingly dominated by players eligible for the U21 setup, with only a handful of established senior internationals included. The squad features 21 out of 23 players who are 23 or under, highlighting a radical commitment to assessing Italy’s emerging talent pool in competitive match scenarios, even if the fixtures themselves are low-risk friendlies.
Among the most notable inclusions is veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, now at Manchester City, who will captain the side and provide much-needed leadership in an otherwise inexperienced dressing room. Alongside him, Lorenzo Palmisani of Frosinone and Giovanni Daffara of Avellino – on loan from Juventus – complete the goalkeeping trio, with Daffara’s call-up a testament to his impressive Serie B campaign.
The defensive unit is a blend of Serie A prospects and players plying their trade abroad. Atalanta’s Honest Ahanor, Milan’s Davide Bartesaghi, and Fiorentina’s Pietro Comuzzo are joined by Borussia Monchengladbach’s Fabio Chiarodia and Borussia Dortmund duo Filippo Mane and Luca Reggiani – all looking to stake a claim for future senior involvement. The presence of Cagliari’s Marco Palestra and Catanzaro’s Costantino Favasuli (who will join the camp late due to club commitments) underlines the thorough scouting net cast by the federation.
In midfield, the selection offers a fascinating glimpse into Italy’s engine-room future. Roma’s Niccolò Pisilli and Lorenzo Venturino are rewarded for their breakout seasons, while Sassuolo’s Luca Lipani and Venezia’s Matteo Dagasso bring creativity and flair. The inclusion of Giacomo Faticanti, currently on loan at Juventus Next Gen from Lecce, raises intriguing questions about his club future; Juventus holds an option to purchase the midfielder, and this international exposure could accelerate negotiations.
The forward line is similarly stacked with promising talent. Francesco Pio Esposito, the Inter striker already sniffing around the senior setup, is the standout name, but he is joined by Milan-owned Francesco Camarda (on loan at Lecce), Genoa’s Jeff Ekhator, and Paris FC’s Luca Koleosho, among others. The variety of profiles – from target men to wide forwards – suggests Baldini wants to test different tactical solutions against Greece and Luxembourg.
The Juventus connection extends beyond Daffara and Faticanti. Daffara is expected to return to Turin after a successful loan at Avellino, where he established himself as a reliable shot-stopper in Serie B. His call-up by Baldini, who also manages the U21s, hints at a possible future role in the Bianconeri first team, especially with the club’s long-term goalkeeping succession planning after Wojciech Szczęsny’s eventual departure.
Faticanti’s situation is more complex. The Lecce-owned midfielder has spent the season with Juventus Next Gen, and the Old Lady has a purchase option believed to be around €3 million. A strong showing in these friendlies could convince Juventus to trigger that clause, making him a permanent addition to their project – and potentially slotting him into the first-team reckoning sooner rather than later.
The broader significance of these friendlies cannot be understated for Italian football. Missing the World Cup for the second consecutive cycle is a profound blow, and the FIGC is clearly using the period to bridge the gap between youth and senior levels. Baldini’s dual role as U21 coach and temporary senior manager provides a unique opportunity to seamlessly integrate promising talents into the national team setup.
Facing Greece and Luxembourg may appear unglamorous, but for many of these players, it represents a career-defining moment. With the next major tournament on the horizon – UEFA Euro 2028 qualifying will begin later this year – performances in these matches could catapult a number of these young Azzurri into contention for competitive fixtures, accelerating the much-needed generational turnover.
As the summer break approaches, these two encounters will serve as a litmus test for Italy’s depth. While the absence of established stars like Nicolo Barella or Federico Chiesa is conspicuous, the intention is clear: build from the bottom up and foster competition for places. Baldini’s experiment may well define the early contours of the post-World Cup rebuild, even before a permanent head coach is appointed.
The squad will assemble in the coming days, with the first match against Luxembourg scheduled before a trip to face Greece. For the players involved, it is an opportunity to don the Azzurro shirt with pride and prove that the future of Italian football is brighter than recent setbacks suggest. Based on reporting from Tuttosport.