{"id":7648,"date":"2026-06-02T08:52:50","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T08:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/lu\/7648\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T08:52:50","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T08:52:50","slug":"preview-luxembourg-vs-italy-prediction-team-news-lineups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/lu\/7648\/","title":{"rendered":"Preview: Luxembourg vs Italy – prediction, team news, lineups"},"content":{"rendered":"

Starting the long road back from another qualifying failure, fallen giants Italy<\/a> will visit little Luxembourg<\/a> for an international friendly on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

A youthful squad has been picked for the Azzurri’s first game since losing a dramatic World Cup playoff<\/a> and missing out on a place at this year’s finals.<\/p>\n

Match preview<\/p>\n

Haunted by the ghosts of successive World Cup failures, the pressure to qualify for the 2026 edition had reached almost intolerable levels before Italy travelled to Zenica in late March.<\/p>\n

After beating Northern Ireland in the semi-finals, the Azzurri were held to a 1-1 draw by Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final, before losing on penalties to a team ranked 58 places lower in FIFA’s world rankings.<\/p>\n

La Nazionale may be four-time world champions, but despite winning the Euros in 2021 they last trod the global stage some seven years earlier – and that long wait must go on.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Following the swift departure of Gennaro Gattuso<\/a> – who had only been hired after Luciano Spalletti was sacked after losing the first qualifier 3-0 in Norway – Silvio Baldini<\/a> will now serve as interim head coach.<\/p>\n

A new permanent appointment is due after FIGC presidential elections take place later this month, so Under-21s boss Baldini has stepped up to senior level for now.<\/p>\n

Tasked with leading his nation into a pair of post-season friendlies – against Luxembourg and Greece – he has named a squad mostly made up of players from Italy’s underage sides.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With several star names given time off to recuperate, Wednesday’s game will offer a chance for fresh talent to shine before a new UEFA Nations League campaign kicks off in the autumn.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Imago<\/p>\n

Luxembourg’s last meeting with Italy was a shock 1-1 draw 12 years ago, when an experienced Azzurri were unable to win a friendly fixture in Perugia.<\/p>\n

Looking further back, Les Lions Rouges had lost five previous contests between the two nations, conceding an average of three goals per game.<\/p>\n

More recently, in their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign, Luxembourg came away completely empty-handed from matches against Germany, Slovakia and Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n

Previously, the tiny state had failed to win any of their six games during the 2024-25 Nations League, finishing rock bottom of League C Group 3 with only three points.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, new coach Jeff Strasser<\/a> finally got his first win in March, as Luxembourg avoided demotion to Europe’s bottom tier by beating Malta both home and away<\/a> in their promotion\/relegation playoff.<\/p>\n

Set to play Albania after Italy pay a visit in midweek, they are now preparing for another Nations League campaign, which will start with a trip to Bulgaria in September.<\/p>\n

Luxembourg form (all competitions):<\/p>\n

L L L L W W<\/p>\n

Italy form (all competitions):<\/p>\n

W W W L W L<\/p>\n

Team News<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Iconsport \/ Sportsfile<\/p>\n

Of the Italy squad that recently convened at Coverciano, only Marco Palestra<\/a>, Niccolo Pisilli, Pio Esposito and captain Gianluigi Donnarumma have been capped at senior level.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So, players such as AC Milan wing-back Davide Bartesaghi, Borussia Dortmund forward Samuele Inacio and Atalanta prodigy Honest Ahanor are set to make their first Azzurri appearance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Though Roma’s Lorenzo Venturino had to withdraw due to injury, Tommaso Berti has been called in as his replacement.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Luxembourg have selected a far more familiar squad, with 122-cap veteran Laurent Jans continuing as captain and Daniel Sinani set to lead an experienced attack.<\/p>\n

Waldhof Mannheim winger Vincent Thill should support the latter up front, after scoring in both legs against Malta.<\/p>\n

The hosts’ most notable absentee is Benfica midfielder Leandro Barreiro, who has been plagued by injury of late.<\/p>\n

Luxembourg possible starting lineup:<\/p>\n

Moris; Jans, Korac, Carlson, Bohnert; Martins, Olesen; V. Thill, S. Thill, Dardari; Sinani<\/p>\n

Italy possible starting lineup:<\/p>\n

Donnarumma; Palestra, Comuzzo, Ahanor, Bartesaghi; Ndour, Lipani, Pisilli; Koleosho, Esposito, Inacio<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

We say: Luxembourg 1-2 Italy\u00a0<\/p>\n

Though Italy are virtually sending the Azzurrini – their Under-21s squad – interim boss Baldini should have sufficient talent at his disposal.<\/p>\n

Hosts Luxembourg may boast more experience, but they are short of quality in key areas and leaked lots of goals in World Cup qualifying.<\/p>\n

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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