Italy U21s coach Silvio Baldini has hinted that several members of the current Azzurrini squad could be called up to Roberto Mancini’s senior squad during the next international break and has explained why he rooted for Frosinone in their recent Serie A match against Como: ‘Our football is better represented by Frosinone than it is by Como’.

Baldini is back with the Italy U21 squad following his interim spell in charge of the senior national team for a pair of friendlies in June, following the departure of Gennaro Gattuso and prior to the appointment of Mancini.

The U21s will be involved in a pair of crucial qualifiers for the upcoming 2027 U21 European Championship in the coming weeks: Against Armenia on October 1 and against Poland on October 5. These will be the final two matches in qualification.

Italy are currently in second place in their qualification group and cannot mathematically finish any lower. They are three points behind group leaders Poland, whom they will face on October 5.

The group winner will qualify directly for the final tournament. The best runner-up in qualifying will also qualify directly for the final tournament and promisingly, Italy are currently ranked as the best second-placed team, albeit with several other matches left to be played elsewhere. The eight other second-placed teams will compete in a play-off round to decide the final four spots in the tournament.

Baldini sat down to discuss the upcoming matches, his recent spell with the senior side, the potential of his players being called up by Mancini and the start to the Serie A season in a press conference at Coverciano on Tuesday.

“Whether it’s with the senior team or the U21s doesn’t change anything for me. It’s the national team and the age group doesn’t make a difference,” Baldini told the press after returning to his regular position as head coach of the U21 sides after a brief spell as interim CT of the senior Italy side.

Baldini took a squad largely made up of his U21 players for his interim spell in charge of the senior squad back in June, and he thinks that those players have developed quicker as a result.