{"id":722644,"date":"2026-06-08T08:27:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T08:27:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/722644\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T08:27:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T08:27:16","slug":"greece-0-1-italy-baldinis-perfect-record-as-pio-esposito-scores-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/722644\/","title":{"rendered":"Greece 0-1 Italy: Baldini’s perfect record as Pio Esposito scores again"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Francesco<\/p>\n

Francesco Pio Esposito celebrates his first senior Italy goal against Estonia (@azzurri)<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Inter striker Francesco Pio Esposito scored his second consecutive goal for Italy in a 1-0 victory against Greece, where Borussia Dortmund\u2019s Luca Reggiani was sent off just 13 minutes into his senior debut.<\/p>\n

Italy beat Greece 1-0 in an international friendly played on Sunday night, securing the second consecutive win under interim coach Silvio Baldini, who is now set to return to the U21 squad.<\/p>\n

Greece 0-1 Italy: Match report<\/p>\n

On a night dominated by Italy\u2019s triumph in the U17 European Championship<\/a>, Pio Esposito scored his fifth goal in nine appearances for the Azzurri. The forward met a fine cross from Jeff Ekhator with an excellent first touch before firing home with his right foot, aided by a slight deflection off a Greek defender.<\/p>\n

The Inter talent had another opportunity before the break, receiving a through ball, but failing to find the net with a weak attempt saved by Vlachodimos.<\/p>\n

The second half began with Luca Koleosho hitting the crossbar with a left-foot finish from point-blank range from a Seydou Fini cross from the right.<\/p>\n

\"LucaLuca Koleosho plays for Italy in the friendly against Luxembourg (@Azzurri)<\/p>\n

Pietro Comuzzo sustained a suspected calf injury and was subbed off.<\/p>\n

His replacement, Luca Reggiani, made his senior debut coming off the bench but was sent off after just 13 minutes<\/a> for a foul on Como striker Anastasios Douvikas. The incident happened in central midfield, but Reggiani was Italy\u2019s last defender and still received his marching orders.<\/p>\n

Italy<\/a> defended resolutely until the final ten minutes. Zafeiris hit the post with a powerful shot from inside the box, while Donnarumma denied Pavlidis a few minutes later.<\/p>\n

\"CESENA,CESENA, ITALY \u2013 OCTOBER 10: Silvio Baldini head coach of Italy U21 during the UEFA Under21 EURO Qualifier betweenItaly U21 v Sweden U21 and ad hoc Arena im Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld on October 10, 2025 in Cesena, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The Azzurri\u2019s 1-0 win marks the end of the 2025-26 campaign in Italy. La Nazionale will return to action on September 25 in the Nations League against Belgium, while Serie A will resume on August 23.<\/p>\n

Greece 0-1 Italy<\/p>\n

Goal: 18\u2032 Pio Esposito<\/p>\n

Greece (3-4-1-2):\u00a0Vlachodimos; Retsos, Hatzidiakos, Koulierakis (46\u2032 Rota); Vagiannidis (76\u2032 Tetteh), Mouzakitis (76\u2032 Zaferis), Triantis (62\u2032 Androutsos), Kiriakopoulos (63\u2032 Tsimikas); Tzolis (88\u2032 Pavlidis); Masouras (63\u2032 Kyziridis), Douvikas (88\u2032 Kostoulas).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Italy (4-3-3):\u00a0Donnarumma; Ahanor (46\u2032 Mane), Comuzzo (55\u2032 Reggiani), Chiarodia, Bartesaghi; Pisilli, Lipani (74\u2032 Dagasso), Ndour; Koleosho (87\u2032 Faticanti), Esposito (87\u2032 Camarda), Ekhator (46\u2032 Fini (74\u2032 Favasuli)).<\/p>\n


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