Italy begins the revolution, this is the decision of Silvio Baldini appointed interim coach and ready to lead the Azzurri for the friendly matches in June. The coach announced the list of 24 players called up for the tests against Luxembourg (3 June) and Greece (7 June) on Monday 25 May. The choice was to focus decisively on the new Italian generation: an experimental, very young national team, built almost entirely around the Under 21 group and designed as a laboratory for the future. The only truly experienced leading figure is the captain, Gianluigi Donnarumma, called upon to act as a guide in a dressing room full of debutants.
The group will meet in Coverciano on the evening of Thursday 28 May and the first training session is scheduled for the following day.
Baldini si affida ai giovani
It's a clear choice, that of Baldini: no compromises, a clear message after complicated weeks for Italian football. The two matches in June become two important tests in which, however, we will have to try not to make mistakes. The objective is to observe, test and empower these young kids. Nineteen of those called up have not yet made their senior national team debut, a sign of a re-foundation that starts with talents who are already protagonists in Serie A, Serie B and foreign leagues.
Tanti i nomi nuovi per la nazionale
Among the names that spark curiosity the most is Francesco Camarda, an offensive talent long overdue for the symbolic leap to the blue team. With him, Inacio also stands out, a protagonist in the ranks of Borussia Dortmund, and Koleosho, one of the most international profiles of the group. Pio Esposito is present in the offensive department, among the few who have already been called up to the senior national team several times and who is indicated by many as one of the pillars of the next cycle.
The same goes for the defense: space for emerging profiles who have never debuted among the greats or who have played few matches so far such as Comuzzo, Palestra and Bartesaghi. In the middle of the field, all eyes are on Ndour and Pisilli, already used to important stages.
It is an Italy that looks above all to 2030, but which could hand over to the next coach several names ready as early as September.
Italia: due test importanti
More than just two friendly matches, the ones against Luxembourg and Greece will be a real test. An important test to see this group react to the weight and responsibility of wearing the blue shirt.
Baldini decided to take a risk, relying on the courage and enthusiasm of the boys. The average age of those called up is 20 years and 6 months. Now it will be up to the field to say whether this green line is just an emergency parenthesis or the first step to build a new Italy.
I 24 convocati
Goalkeepers: Giovanni Daffara (Avellino), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Lorenzo Palmisani (Frosinone);
Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Atalanta), Davide Bartesaghi (Milan), Fabio Chiarodia (Borussia Monchengladbach), Pietro Comuzzo (Fiorentina), *Costantino Favasuli (Catanzaro), Filippo Mane (Borussia Dortmund), Marco Palestra (Cagliari), Luca Reggiani (Borussia Dortmund);
Midfielders: Matteo Dagasso (Venice), Giacomo Faticanti (Juventus), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Cher Ndour (Fiorentina), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Lorenzo Venturino (Roma);
Forwards: Francesco Camarda (Lecce), Luigi Cherubini (Sampdoria), Jeff Ekhator (Genoa), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Seydou Fini (Frosinone), Samuele Inacio (Borussia Dortmund), Luca Koleosho (Paris FC).