Two wins, two 1-0 scorelines, two goals from Pio Esposito. The match against Greece ended the same way as against Luxembourg, with Silvio Baldini’s Azzurri, featuring plenty of young talent, securing their second victory in five days and showing real resilience under pressure. Down to ten men for the final half hour after Luca Reggiani’s red card, the Azzurri held on valiantly. This victory came on the same day that Italy’s Under-17 side became European champions for the second time in three years. The match against Greece was truly promising: another goal from Esposito after his strike on Wednesday, a defence that only really came under pressure late on, and a united team determined to win despite the match being only a friendly.

 

THE HEAD COACH’S DELIGHT
“I haven’t been praising these players without good reason. I know just how skilled they are,” Baldini said. “Once they realise that discipline and rules are tools that help a team grow, it shows they’ve developed the maturity needed to become a strong side. Now they just need to develop. I wanted these boys to gain confidence. I care about doing my job well: in football, there are lots of people who will make comments about you, but I answer on the pitch alongside my players. I believe I’m here for a reason: destiny brought me here, but the journey was difficult and full of obstacles. I wanted to be useful. I approached these two matches intending to show my players that they are valued for the way they consistently deliver.”

He also spoke about the Under-17 side’s European triumph: “Our whole system works based on strong principles. Every youth team has won trophies; the challenge has always been taking that next step. After these performances, I think that step looks less daunting.”

For Pio Esposito, it was his fifth goal for Italy before turning 21, on par with Gianni Rivera, with only Meazza ahead on 11: “I’m delighted with this milestone, but my focus was elsewhere. I wanted to win with this great squad. The best thing is that we treated these two games not as friendlies, but with utmost commitment. Considering the work we’ve put in, it was only right to come away with two victories.”

TWO CHANGES
Compared to the first match in Luxembourg, Baldini made two changes to his starting XI, with Ahanor replacing Favasuli at right-back and Ekhator coming into the front three instead of Cherubini. Following a minute’s silence in memory of Marios Oikonomou, the Greek defender who spent many years in Italy with Cagliari, Bologna, SPAL, Bari, and Sampdoria and who recently passed away following a road accident, it was Ekhator who had the game’s first chance. Played through by Comuzzo, the Genoa forward fired wide.

Italy continued to play with courage and creativity, going ahead in the 18th minute through Esposito, who found a pass from Ekhator on the left. The Inter striker’s right-footed effort, helped by a deflection, found its way beyond Vlachodimos. Tzolis posed Greece’s biggest threat, while Esposito had another opportunity before the break but was denied this time by the Greek goalkeeper.

CROSSBAR AND POST
Koleosho kicked off the second half with two opportunities: first with a deflected effort, then with a left-footed strike onto the crossbar from an assist from Fini, with Baldini also introducing Mane for Ahanor at half-time. Reggiani then came on for Comuzzo, but the Borussia Dortmund defender lasted only 13 minutes before the Israeli referee Frid showed him a red card for a foul on Douvikas, which he deemed to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Down to ten men, Baldini decided to take off Fini, who had only just come on, to bring on Favasuli and strengthen his side, while Dagasso also replaced Lipani. Greece nearly equalised through substitute Zafeiris, whose shot struck the post, before Donnarumma reacted quickly to deny Pavlidis from close range. Vlachodimos also denied Favasuli’s left-footed effort.

At full-time, there were plenty of hugs on the pitch. It was another promising Azzurri Sunday.

GREECE 0-1 ITALY

GREECE (3-4-1-2): Vlachodimos; Retsos, Hatzidiakos, Koulierakis (Rota 46’); Vagiannidis (Tetteh 76’), Triantis (Androutsos 62’), Mouzakitis (Zafeiris 76’), Kyriakopoulos (Tsimikas 62’); Tzolis (Pavlidis 87’); Masouras (Kyziridis 62’), Douvikas (Kostoulas 89’).
Substitutes: Tzolakis, Mandas, Mavropanos, Kourbelis, Kontouris, Ntoi.
Head coach: Jovanovic

ITALY (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Ahanor (Mane 46’), Comuzzo (Reggiani 55’), Chiarodia, Bartesaghi; Pisilli, Lipani (Dagasso 74’), Ndour; Koleosho (Faticanti 87’), Esposito (Camarda 87’), Ekhator (Fini 46’, Favasuli 74’).
Substitutes: Daffara, Palmisani, Fortini, Cacciamani, Berti, Inacio.
Head coach: Baldini

Referee: Frid (Israel).
Assistants: Talis and Koltunoff (Israel).
Fourth official: Moschou (Greece).
VAR: Bar Natan (Israel).
AVAR: Dotan (Israel).

Goal Scorer: Esposito 18’

Bookings:
Reggiani sent off in the 68th minute for foul play.
Yellow Cards: Lipani, Ahanor.