Francesco Pio Esposito decided Italy’s friendly against Luxembourg with a 1-0 win, scoring soon after half-time. Interim coach Silvio Baldini selected an inexperienced group, with Gianluigi Donnarumma and Esposito the best-known names, as Italy continued rebuilding while waiting to appoint a permanent head coach following recent disappointment.

The match followed Italy’s World Cup play-off loss against Bosnia-Herzegovina, where defeat on penalties brought a third straight failure to qualify. Esposito missed one of those spot-kicks, yet accepted selection for this rotated squad and used the Luxembourg game to show readiness to lead Italy’s attacking line.

Italy’s youthful side, averaging 21 years and 354 days, pressed from the opening stages against Luxembourg. Esposito threatened early with a clever flick that rolled just wide of the left upright. The Inter striker then attempted a bicycle kick, sending another effort narrowly past the target as pressure steadily increased.

Niccolo Pisilli almost turned Esposito’s approach play into a goal shortly after the half-hour mark, shooting into the side-netting after a low pass inside the area. Luxembourg struggled to hold possession, and Italy continued to control territory, but the first period still finished goalless despite several promising situations around Anthony Morris’ penalty area.

The deadlock ended four minutes into the second half when Pisilli delivered an out-swinging corner from the right. Esposito met the cross with a firm header that Morris could not keep out. Soon after, Pisilli went close again, striking the frame of the goal from Luca Koleosho’s driven cross from the left channel.

Luxembourg produced nine attempts but created no clear openings, finishing with 0.41 expected goals. Italy’s substitutes also looked for a second strike, with Seydou Fini sending a first-time shot over the bar late on. Many players used here may not appear in September’s Nations League squad, yet gained important international minutes.

Esposito now has four goals in eight senior appearances for Italy and joins an elite historical group. The forward is only the third player to score more than three times for Italy before turning 21, matching a list that already includes Giuseppe Meazza and Gianni Rivera, whose early records remain ahead.

Italy’s starting XI against Luxembourg was the youngest since December 1912, when a team averaging 21 years and 308 days met Austria in a friendly under coach Umberto Meazza. This latest performance offered Italy a controlled win, valuable experience for emerging players, and further evidence of Esposito’s growing importance in attack.