Italy’s Under 21 national team secured a 1-0 victory over Luxembourg in a friendly match on Wednesday, marking their first win following their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The decisive goal came from Inter forward Francesco Pio Esposito in the 49th minute, providing a positive result for manager Silvio Baldini’s young squad.
Esposito, alongside goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, has become a key figure in Baldini’s project, which focuses on developing Under 21 players and promising young Italian talent. The match offered a valuable opportunity for the Azzurri to build momentum after a disappointing qualifying campaign that ended with a defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina, led by Edin Dzeko.
Late in the game, Borussia Dortmund’s Samuele Inacio made his debut for the Italian national team, entering the field in the 90th minute. This provided the young player with valuable international experience as he continues his development with the German club. Inacio’s inclusion signals Baldini’s intent to integrate emerging talent into the squad.
Elsewhere in international friendlies, the Netherlands suffered a 1-0 defeat to Algeria, with Hadj Moussa scoring the winning goal in the 86th minute. The Dutch side is preparing for the 2026 World Cup, where they will compete in Group F against Japan, Tunisia, and Sweden. A lively encounter between Poland and Nigeria ended in a 2-2 draw, with goals from Moffi, Potulski, Onuachu, and Wisniewski. Finally, Congo and Denmark played out a goalless draw in Liegi, serving as preparation for Congo’s participation in the 2026 World Cup and a missed opportunity for Denmark to gain match practice following their exclusion from the tournament.
The result provides a boost for Italy’s youth setup as they look to rebuild after World Cup qualifying disappointment, while the other friendlies offered valuable preparation for teams heading to the 2026 tournament.
