Baldini Hands 15 Senior Debuts as Italy Beat Luxembourg 1-0

Overview

• Silvio Baldini, who was promoted from the Under-21s after Gennaro Gattuso's resignation, led the Azzurri to a 1-0 win over Luxembourg on Wednesday with Francesco Pio Esposito scoring the only goal.
• Baldini gave 15 players their first senior caps in the match as a live evaluation exercise for long-term squad planning.
• Italy out-shot Luxembourg and finished with an expected goals total of 2.1 to 0.38, with Niccolò Pisilli hitting the woodwork and only three shots on target.
• Baldini said the youngsters showed quality but posed risks as many were debutants, and he will stay in charge for the friendly against Greece on June 7 while the FIGC continues its search for a permanent coach.
• The starting XI had an average age of 21 years and 354 days, the youngest Italy side since 1912, a development that raises questions about club youth minutes and affects planning for the U21 European cycle and the Olympics.