Italy Leadership Praised As Baldini Hails Donnarumma And Esposito In Young Azzurri Squad

Silvio Baldini has highlighted Gianluigi Donnarumma and Francesco Pio Esposito as leading figures in a very inexperienced Italy squad, with the Azzurri preparing June friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece after another painful World Cup qualifying failure that leaves the national mood subdued.

"We were honestly surprised by the attitude of Donnarumma, Pio Esposito and others, Baldini said at Tuesday's press conference, ahead of facing Luxembourg on Wednesday. They put themselves at the disposal of the group and even thanked them for being with the team. Seeing them so humble and at the same level as the others was wonderful."

The interim coach, currently in charge of the Under-21 side, is guiding a youthful group, with the Italian Football Federation still searching for a permanent appointment. Baldini will oversee matches against Luxembourg and Greece using a squad built to test emerging options in a low-pressure environment while senior decisions are pending.

The group includes 21 uncapped players and just four with previous senior appearances. Donnarumma leads with 81 caps, Esposito has seven, while Marco Palestra and Niccolo Pisilli are on two each. Their experience stands out within a largely new dressing room that must adapt quickly to international demands.

The wider backdrop for these friendlies is difficult. Italy lost to Bosnia-Herzegovina on penalties in the UEFA play-offs in March, which confirmed a third straight absence from the World Cup and deepened concerns about direction at international level.

No former world champion had previously missed three consecutive World Cups. Italy also sat out the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, while earlier absences came in 1930, when the team did not enter, and 1958, when qualification attempts were unsuccessful.

Those setbacks explain why the June fixtures feel restrained in tone and why the search continues for a new permanent coach. Gennaro Gattuso’s replacement has not been announced, with Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri and Pep Guardiola all mentioned in speculation surrounding the role.

Despite the disappointment, Baldini views these matches as a key stage for development. "I feel there is a lot of talent in this group, they are great players who are in Serie A and this is the moment where they can explode onto the scene, Baldini added. We already saw that kind of development with Marco Palestra and Niccolo Pisilli, who stepped into the big leagues and were part of this group of youngsters."

For Italy, these friendlies offer a chance to rebuild identity, with Donnarumma, Esposito and a small core guiding many debutants. Results will matter less than performance levels as officials assess options and consider which players can help restore the Azzurri at future major tournaments.