FIFA International Friendly | Sunday, 7 June 2026 Pankritio Stadium, Heraklion, Crete | Referee: Yigal Frid
Italy had ten men for the final stretch. Greece had 57% of the ball. Greece had twelve shot attempts to Italy’s ten. And Italy won.
That is the kind of evening interim boss Silvio Baldini will take and move on from quickly. His young squad — most of them barely known at international level — came to Heraklion, scored through Pio Esposito in the 18th minute, lost Luca Reggiani to a straight red card at 68 minutes, and then held on through five minutes of added time with their backs against the wall.
1-0. Clean sheet. Job done. Uncomfortable but done.
Italy are not going to the World Cup. For the second consecutive tournament, the Azzurri are watching it on television. They beat Northern Ireland in the play-off semi-finals and then lost to Bosnia-Herzegovina on penalties in the final — a result that still stings in every part of the country. Baldini took over as interim. The rebuild starts now. Sunday in Heraklion was the second match of this window, a 1-0 win over Luxembourg on Wednesday having been the opener.
The squad he named for this trip had virtually no senior experience. Donnarumma was the only real anchor — the PSG goalkeeper who has been Italy’s first choice for six years and probably will be for another six. Around him were names most casual observers would struggle to place. Koleosho, born in Spain, raised in Canada, now playing international football for Italy. Cher Ndour in midfield. Esposito, the Inter Milan forward who has been Italy’s most exciting young striker for two seasons.
Esposito got the goal. Eighteenth minute. He received the ball just inside the box, let it roll across his body, and finished along the post — a combination of quality and a slight fortune as the ball clipped the upright before going in. Greece’s goalkeeper Vlachodimos had no chance once the shot took the deflection. Italy in front.
Greece had 57% of the ball before half-time and created from the wings through Tzolis and Masouras. Pavlidis had a delicate touch at the near post that the Italian goalkeeper saved well — the best chance Greece produced in the opening 45 minutes. Douvikas worked the channels without finding the decisive moment. The half-time score stayed 0-1 to Italy.
The second half was more open. Greece pushed higher. Ivan Jovanović made changes and tried to find the equaliser. Then Reggiani — who had already been booked — received his second yellow card in the 68th minute and was off. Ten men for Italy. The momentum swung completely.
Greece pressed. They had five minutes of added time in which to find the goal. Costantino Favasuli almost got a second for Italy first — a powerful shot from outside the box that went just wide. Then Greece’s best late chance arrived when a cross from the left found an unmarked attacker who could not convert cleanly. Donnarumma dealt with the rest.
Full time: Greece 0-1 Italy.
Greece did everything but score. Twelve shot attempts. Two corners. Looked the more dangerous side for large parts of the second half. It just did not go in. That has been the theme of their recent run — one win in five, a late equaliser to draw with Sweden on Thursday, and now a defeat at home when they had every reason to feel confident.
Tzolis was their best player. The Club Brugge winger — who had 17 goals and 23 assists for his club this season, one of the best individual seasons in Belgian football — was constantly involved and created the situations Greece needed. The end product from others let him down.
Italy’s result is more significant in context. Two wins from two in this window, clean sheets in both, young players getting minutes and building experience. Nobody is pretending this is the Italy of old. The talent is there — Esposito proves that. The consistency and the tournament experience are what still needs building. The Nations League will be the real test.
Baldini said afterwards the team showed character. He was right. Holding on with ten men in a hostile ground, in the heat of Crete, against a Greece side who pushed for 20 minutes — that requires something.
For live international scores and football coverage, visit fawanews.org.uk. Full Nations League groups and fixtures at the official UEFA website.
Greece 0-1 Italy FIFA International Friendly | Sunday, 7 June 2026 Pankritio Stadium, Heraklion, Crete | Referee: Yigal Frid
Goal: Pio Esposito 18′ (Italy, finish off the post) Red Card: Luca Reggiani 68′ (Italy, second yellow)
Greece (3-4-2-1): Vlachodimos; Koulierakis, Hatzidiakos, Retsos; Vagiannidis, Mouzakitis, Triantis, Kyriakopoulos; Tzolis, Masouras; Douvikas
Italy (3-4-2-1): Donnarumma; (defenders); (midfielders); Koleosho, Ndour; Esposito Subs used: Faticanti, Camarda, others
Stats: Possession GRE 57.4% — ITA 42.6% | Shots on Goal 1-3 | Attempts 12-10 | Corners 2-3 | Saves 2-1 | Yellow Cards 0-3 | Half-time 0-1
