In an international friendly played on June 7, 2026, at the Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion, Italy secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Greece. The match served as a test for both sides, as neither team qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
First Half: Esposito Strikes
Italy took control of the match early when Inter Milan forward Francesco Pio Esposito scored the decisive goal in the 17th minute. After receiving a fine cross from Jeff Ekhator, Esposito controlled the ball with a sharp first touch before firing a right-footed shot into the net, aided by a slight deflection off a Greek defender. Despite Italy's lead, the first half remained competitive, with both sides finding attacking spaces before heading into the break at 0–1.
Second Half: Resilience Under Pressure
The second half saw Italy manage their lead with discipline, though the game shifted in the 68th minute when Luca Reggiani was shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Anastasios Douvikas. Making his senior debut, Reggiani had only been on the pitch for 13 minutes after replacing the injured Pietro Comuzzo.
Down to 10 men, Italy defended resolutely against a persistent Greek attack:
The Woodwork: Greece nearly found an equalizer in the closing stages, with Christos Zafeiris striking the post with a powerful effort from inside the box.
Key Save: Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma maintained Italy's clean sheet by denying a delicate touch from Vangelis Pavlidis in the final minutes.
Key Match Takeaways
Tactical Discipline: Interim coach Silvio Baldini secured his second consecutive win, showcasing a talented young Italian squad.
Statline: Italy finished with 1.16 expected goals (xG) from 10 shots, while Greece managed 0.5 xG from their six attempts.
Disciplinary Issues: The match was physically testing, resulting in a red card for Italy and several yellow cards distributed across the tie.
Italy will now look toward the start of the UEFA Nations League in September, while both teams continue to rebuild following their absence from the 2026 World Cup tournament.