Baldini Fields Youth-Heavy Italy Team Ahead of June Friendlies

The interim coach is using two away tests to assess Under-21 talent while the FIGC delays a permanent appointment until after its June 22 presidential vote.

Overview

Silvio Baldini was promoted from the Under-21 job to serve as interim Italy coach after Gennaro Gattuso left following the March playoff defeat that cost Italy a place at the 2026 World Cup.
Baldini named a 24-man squad made up almost entirely of Under-21 players with only Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marco Palestra, Niccolò Pisilli and Pio Esposito holding prior senior caps.
Training sessions this week pointed to a 4-3-3 shape and a provisional starting XI that would include the four senior players, though selections are provisional until matchday.
Baldini has publicly praised the humility and leadership of Donnarumma and Esposito for helping integrate a largely uncapped group during the Coverciano camp.
The FIGC will wait until its June 22 presidential election to pick a permanent coach so these June friendlies are being treated primarily as talent evaluations that will feed longer-term planning for the U21 side and Olympic qualification.