Coach Silvio Baldini just dropped the full 25-player roster for Italy’s Under-21 European Championship qualifiers, and it’s got some wild new faces heading into two absolutely massive games. We’re talking the final push for the 2027 Euros, and Baldini is bringing in fresh blood to get it done. The stakes couldn’t be higher, with Italy currently sitting three points behind group leaders Poland. These next two matches are everything if the Azzurrini want a direct shot at the tournament.
Baldini’s Bold Bets: Who Are These New Guys?
Baldini isn’t messing around for these critical qualifiers against Armenia and Poland. He’s called up several new faces, with Mattia Liberali, Luca Reggiani, and Emanuele Lulli all getting their first ever calls for the Under-21 side. Liberali, a sharp midfielder from Como, is stepping up. Lulli, a dynamic winger from Roma, is also making his debut. And let’s not forget Matteo Cichella, another fresh face joining the squad. It’s a clear signal from Baldini: he’s looking for players who can make an immediate impact when it matters most. These are the last two games in the qualifying campaign for the 2027 European Under-21 Championships, which are set to be hosted by Albania and Serbia. Only the top team in the group secures an automatic spot, with the best runner-up across all nine groups also advancing. Italy is currently playing catch-up, needing to close that three-point gap on Poland. That deficit is all thanks to a tough 2-1 defeat they suffered against Poland back in November 2025.
The Borussia Dortmund Talent Who Can’t Stop Making Headlines
But let’s talk about Luca Reggiani for a second, because his story is straight-up wild. This Borussia Dortmund talent has been bumped up from the Under-19 side, which is a big deal in itself. What’s even crazier? Reggiani has actually already made his senior debut for Italy at just 18 years old! He stepped onto the pitch for a 1-0 friendly win over Greece back in June. You’d think that’s awesome, right? Well, in a shocking twist, he got sent off after just 13 minutes. Thirteen minutes! And now, Baldini is bringing him into the Under-21 squad for the most important games of their qualifying campaign. He’s never featured for the U21 team before, making this call-up even more of a high-stakes gamble. Baldini is clearly banking on this kid’s raw talent despite a somewhat, shall we say, memorable first impression on the senior stage. The pressure is on for him to deliver in a big way.
Italy has to travel to Yerevan for their meeting with Armenia on October 1. That’s just the warm-up, though. The real head-to-head is coming on October 5 when they clash with group leaders Poland at the Stadio Adriatico in Pescara. This is it. Two games to decide their fate. Every tackle, every pass, every shot is going to count. Can they overcome that three-point deficit and punch their ticket directly to the Euros? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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