Interim Italy coach Silvio Baldini was ‘stunned by the humility’ of Gianluigi Donnarumma and Francesco Pio Esposito in a gaggle of largely Underneath-21 gamers.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy warms up previous to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
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He has been tasked with main the Azzurri into the ultimate two and in Greece on Sunday.
Promoted from the Underneath-21 job after Gennaro Gattuso’s resignation, he determined to focus largely on new faces in his squad after the World Cup play-off disappointment.
Baldini non permanent Italy coach for two video games
CREMONA, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Coach Silvio Baldini of Italy reacts through the UEFA Euro U21 Qualification match between Italy and Armenia at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 14, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Picture by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Photographs)
“I felt emotional earlier than going to the Coverciano floor for the primary time, for a complete month main as much as it actually,”
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“As soon as you might be on that pitch, you’ve bought to consider doing all of your job effectively, not feelings. In fact there are emotions, in any other case you aren’t an individual, however you’ve bought to focus.”
There are a couple of members of the outdated guard within the facet for these video games, above all captain Donnarumma, recent from a protracted marketing campaign at .
“We had been truthfully stunned by the angle of Donnarumma, Pio Esposito and extra, who put themselves on the disposal of the group and even thanked them for being welcomed into the workforce.
“Seeing them so humble and on the identical stage because the others was fantastic.”
The others are largely from the Underneath-21 facet and are uncapped, so will likely be given a chance to indicate off the way forward for the Nazionale.
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“I really feel there’s numerous expertise on this group, they’re nice gamers who’re in Serie A and that is the second the place they will explode onto the scene,” added Baldini.
“We already noticed that form of growth with and Niccolò Pisilli, who stepped into the large leagues and had been a part of this group of kids.”
Italy are doing effectively at youth stage, significantly the Underneath-17 and Underneath-19 tournaments, however appear to hit a brick wall as soon as they must make the step as much as senior soccer.