The latest Italy squad has been named.
They play Luxembourg on 3 June and Greece on 7 June.
Sandro Tonali is a notable absentee in this latest Italy squad.
Some Newcastle United fans having jumped to the conclusion that his absence confirms a significant injury issue, taking into account his late withdrawal from the starting eleven against Fulham.
The truth is though, Sandro Tonali was never going to be included in this Italy squad.
After failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico (losing the play-offs on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina) Gennaro Gattuso resigned and with no new coach in place yet, Italy brought in Under-21 coach Silvio Baldini on a temporary basis for these two friendly fixtures.
Baldini has now said that there was no point calling in players from the usual Azzurri squad.
That instead he would focus on younger players, many of them getting their first opportunity at senior level and many of them of course having previously played under the interim Italy boss at Under-21 level.
This Italy squad for the friendlies has an average age of only 20 years and six months.
Not a single outfield player who started in that World Cup play-off final defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina has been named in this latest squad, not just Sandro Tonali.
The only exception from that play-off final is captain Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Man City goalkeeper seen as the leader and guide to such an inexperienced squad.
For Newcastle United only a good thing, whatever his injury and fitness situation. Sandro Tonali having the summer to rest and recover ahead of a massive NUFC season ahead. A player that United simply can’t afford to lose, his midfield partnership with Bruno Guimaraes is key to Newcastle United getting back on track next season.
The Italy squad for these Luxembourg and Greece friendlies.
Goalkeepers: Giovanni Daffara (Avellino), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Lorenzo Palmisani (Frosinone)
Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Atalanta), Davide Bartesaghi (Milan), Fabio Chiarodia (Borussia Monchengladbach), Pietro Comuzzo (Fiorentina), Costantino Favasuli (Catanzaro), Filippo Mane (Borussia Dortmund), Marco Palestra (Cagliari), Luca Reggiani (Borussia Dortmund)
Midfielders: Matteo Dagasso (Venezia), Giacomo Faticanti (Juventus), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Cher Ndour (Fiorentina), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Lorenzo Venturino (Roma)
Forwards: Francesco Camarda (Lecce), Luigi Cherubini (Sampdoria), Jeff Ekhator (Genoa), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Seydou Fini (Frosinone), Samuele Inacio (Borussia Dortmund), Luca Koleosho (Paris FC)