Ten-man Italy holds firm in Greece and ends season with two wins
Eliminated from 2026 World Cup qualifying, Italy concluded its season with two friendly victories: 1-0 against Luxembourg and then 1-0 in Greece, despite a late red card.
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Italy ended its season on a positive note despite the difficult context of its elimination in 2026 World Cup qualifying. The Nazionale won 1-0 in Greece on Sunday evening, four days after an identical success against Luxembourg.
Under interim manager Silvio Baldini, a rejuvenated squad proved sufficient to make the difference. Pio Esposito scored the match’s only goal in the 18th minute, giving the Squadra Azzurra a lead they would not relinquish.
The task became more complicated in the 68th minute with the expulsion of Luca Reggiani, forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma’s teammates to defend with ten men for more than twenty minutes. The Italians held firm and brought home three points from Athens.
These two consecutive victories do not erase the fresh setback in World Cup qualifying, but they offer some grounds for hope to a federation embarking on a reconstruction cycle. The Nazionale departs with a perfect record over this international window, an encouraging sign for the work ahead.
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