Italy Under-21 coach Silvio Baldini insists a lack of talent is ‘not the problem’ for Italian football, but rather ‘directors up to the task,’ as he praises Roberto Mancini and Claudio Ranieri for creating a pipeline.

The Azzurrini secured their qualification for the European Under-21 Championship next summer thanks to a 6-2 hammering of previous group leaders Poland , a side that had conceded just two in the previous nine matches.

It was achieved also thanks to senior coach Mancini releasing some talents for Under-21 duty, including Crystal Palace full-back Honest Ahanor.

“The players are there, a lack of young talent is not the problem,” Baldini told Sky Sport Italia.

“The problem is that we don’t have directors up to the task to do things properly. You can see the players we have, how they express themselves. The senior Nazionale put youth in and straight away you could sense a different atmosphere.

“If these lads don’t play, it’s natural they will struggle to improve and progress. That is the problem. Clubs need to invest much more, get these players on the field, not just constantly send them out on loan.”

The Under-21 players rushed to the touchline to embrace Baldini during the victory, as the bond with the coach is evident.

“Football is emotion and sentiment. I always tell the players, you are artists, just like painters or poets, you manage to stir the emotions of millions of people.

From a tactical formation and squad depth perspective, "Baldini: ‘The problem for Italian football is not talent’ as 11-12 players ready" carries substantial tournament implications for international seeding and domestic campaign momentum. Coaching staffs are heavily weighing high-pressing efficiency (PPDA), defensive transition pace, and fixture fatigue management.

Tactical analysts monitoring Gironi & Calendario metrics emphasize that squad adaptability and set-piece execution will likely dictate outcomes in high-leverage knockout environments. Real-time match telemetry and tracking data continue to inform managerial decision-making.

Editorial Fact-Check & Verification Note: This briefing was curated, corroborated, and synthesized by the Mondiali 2026 Italia Editorial Desk. Readers following "Baldini: ‘The problem for Italian football is not talent’ as 11-12 players ready" are encouraged to review the full primary source coverage linked below for complete historical context, direct quotes, and official statements.