Italy handed senior debuts to 15 players in an experimental lineup, and it was Francesco Pio Esposito who made the difference, scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 friendly win over Luxembourg.

This was the first of two friendly fixtures under interim coach Silvio Baldini, who stepped up from the Under-21 squad after Gennaro Gattuso’s departure following the World Cup play-off disappointment. Baldini selected a youthful and largely inexperienced squad, with only four players having earned senior caps before. Marco Palestra was expected to start but missed out due to a minor adductor strain, leading to Catanzaro’s Costantino Favasuli taking the right-back spot among eight debutants in the starting eleven.

Early on, Luca Lipani headed over from a corner, while Cher Ndour’s shot lacked accuracy. Esposito came close with a clever back-heel flick that went just wide after a Lipani cross from the right.

Esposito later attempted an acrobatic bicycle kick that missed the target, before another inventive back-heel from the Inter striker set up Niccolò Pisilli, whose effort from a tight angle hit the side netting.

Luca Koleosho wasted a golden opportunity when through on goal, firing a weak shot straight at the goalkeeper.

As half-time approached, the game opened up. Esposito’s strike was blocked, and Luxembourg’s Daniel Sinani narrowly missed with a powerful shot from a tight angle.

Ndour saw one of his attempts deflected over the bar by Jans before Italy finally took the lead. Pisilli’s corner found Esposito, who flicked a glancing header past the near post to make it 1-0.

Koleosho squandered another chance shortly after, sending a shot wide of the far post, while Pisilli was denied by the upright in the 59th minute after a well-placed low cross from Favasuli on the left.

Luxembourg’s Moreira led a counterattack that failed to trouble Gianluigi Donnarumma. Davide Bartesaghi’s volley was blocked, while substitute Seydou Fini sent a half-volley over the bar from ten yards after a long throw-in caused chaos in the box.

Francesco Camarda nearly marked his senior debut with a goal just seconds after coming on, heading wide from a Bartesaghi cross.

Pisilli continued to threaten, but his shot was blocked by Korac’s last-ditch tackle. Donnarumma also had to rush out of his area to clear a dangerous long ball.

Goal: Pio Esposito 49 (Italy)

Luxembourg: Moris; Jans, Korac, Carlson, Michael Pinto (Mahmutovic 67); V Thill (S Thill 77), Martins, Olesen (Goncalves 87), Moreira (Duarte 87), Bohnert (Kadamani 67); Sinani (Curci 87)

Italy: Donnarumma; Favasuli (Fortini 67), Chiarodia, Comuzzo (Mane 76), Bartesaghi (Ahanor 89); Ndour, Lipani (Dagasso 76), Pisilli; Cherubini (Fini 67), Pio Esposito (Camarda 76), Koleosho (Inacio 89)

Referee: Kooj (NED)