Football Italia Live Blog
This page is no longer live, but check back soon for more Live Blogs!
Join us for all the build-up and action as it happens from Italy’s friendly match against Luxembourg, with many uncapped and new players.
It kicks off at the Stade de Luxembourg at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).
This is the first of two games, along with Sunday’s trip to Greece, under interim coach Silvio Baldini, who was promoted from the Under-21 job after the World Cup play-off.
He decided to refresh the squad with largely untested faces from the Azzurrini camp.
Francesco Pio Esposito scored the winning goal for Italy in a 1-0 friendly win over Luxembourg and impressed with his selfless team play, resulting in Football Italia’s MVP.
Click here for the full details
Interim Italy coach Silvio Baldini reveals what most ‘worried’ him about giving 15 players their senior debuts in the victory over Luxembourg. ‘They are capable of much better.’
“I am happy to have helped the team bring home the result. Even if it’s a friendly, we took it very seriously and with the utmost effort,” Pio Esposito told RAI Sport.
The Inter centre-forward has a remarkably tally for the Nazionale at senior level, with four goals in eight senior caps.
“When I set foot on the pitch, I try to give my all, not just in scoring goals, but trying to be of service to my teammates.
“It was a wonderful thing to be near my teammates on their debuts. I was in their shoes a few months ago, it we great to see their emotion in the build-up, and when they came onto the pitch.
“We have a lot of responsibility because we wear the Italy shirt. It is true that we are young, but I think we are valid players and need to prove ourselves one game at a time.”
Italy gave 15 players their senior debuts in an experimental side, but it was Francesco Pio Esposito who decided the 1-0 friendly victory over Luxembourg.
Click here for the full match report.
Another Luxembourg free kick, but Martins nods it waaaaaaay over.
Carlson is booked for getting into a bit of a kerfuffle with Ndour. Unnecessary, kicked the ball at Pisilli.
Goncalves free kick deflected wide for a corner.
Into 4 minutes of added time.
Free kick into the box, but Martins crashes into Donnarumma. He’s trouble, that lad.
Ahanor and Samuel Inacio on, Koleosho and Bartesaghi off.
Long ball bounces kindly for Jens, Donnarumma sprints outside the area to nod it clear!
Diego Duarte, Curci and Goncalves on
Moreira, Sinani and Olesen off
Jens roll across cut out by Chiarodia, then Sinani pulls back for Moreira, who cannot keep the angled drive on target.
Korac again important with the headed clearance on Koleosho’s corner.
Pisilli gathers the Ndour through ball, gets the shot away, but is denied by a desperate Korac block! Corner for Italy.
Vincent Thill off, Sebastien Thill on. They are brothers.
Within seconds of his senior debut, Camarda glancing header just wide from the Bartesaghi cross!
Camarda, Dagasso and Mane on.
Esposito, Lipani and Comuzzo off.
Again, all debutants at this level.
Sinani can sprint, but so can Fortini, the ball doesn’t go out of play, so Sinani keeps going, Martins goes down again for no good reason and the referee is now sick of him too, gives the free kick against him.
Olesen corner, but Sinani fouled Ndour. Ndour is not happy, Donnarumma literally pushes his teammate away to avoid this escalating.
Sinani tries to curl in directly from the corner flag, tricky punch for Donnarumma, then cross back in and a header deflected for another corner.
Chiarodia charges down the Martins effort for a Luxembourg corner.
Long throw-in bounces in the box, ends up at the feet of Seydou Fini, who balloons over on the half-volley from 10 yards! He proper shinned that…
Sinani free kick, glancing header towards the back post, but Fortini shepherds it out of play.
Fini and Fortini on for Italy.
Favasuli and Cherubini off.
There are some Luxembourg changes too, Kadamani and Mahmutovic replace Bohnert and Pinto.
Pisilli corner cleared as far as Bartesaghi, that volley was travelling, but charged down!
0 thought on “International Friendly Liveblog: Luxembourg vs. Italy”