Baldini wants Italy ‘ready to prove their freedom’ against Greece

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Interim boss Silvio Baldini wants Italy to be “relaxed” and play with “freedom” in their friendly against Greece.

The Azzurri, who are set to miss a third successive World Cup, will play their final match of the season at the Pankritio Stadium on Sunday.

Under-21s coach Baldini, temporarily in charge while the search continues for Gennaro Gattuso’s successor, handed out 15 seniors debuts during Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Luxembourg.

Italy fielded their youngest starting XI – with an average age of 21 years and 354 days – since their friendly against Austria back in December 1912 (21 years and 308 days).

Francesco Pio Esposito scored the winner with his fourth international goal, becoming only the third Azzurri player to net more than three times before turning 21, after Giuseppe Meazza (11) and Gianni Rivera (five).

— Italy(@Azzurri_En) June 6, 2026

And Baldini is likely to shake things up again for the four-time world champions’ visit to Greece.

“I expect to see the same things we saw in Luxembourg,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “Even if the opponents are of a different level this time around.

“I would like the lads to start the game relaxed, ready to prove their freedom.

“It doesn’t mean that they are not present in the match, but able to bring out all the technical quality at the disposal of the Italy side.”

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