Greece and Italy, both unable to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will conclude their 2025-26 international seasons with a friendly match in Crete on Sunday. This meeting comes as both teams prepare for the upcoming UEFA Nations League season.
The absence of Italy from the World Cup represents a notable decline for the four-time winners, who have now missed three consecutive tournaments, having been absent in 2018 and 2022 as well. Their quest was halted in a dramatic playoff final, where they fell to Bosnia-Herzegovina in a penalty shootout after defeating Northern Ireland in the semi-finals.
In the wake of that setback, Italy initiated a rebuilding phase with interim coach Silvio Baldini at the helm of a squad featuring numerous young, uncapped players. Their opening match under Baldini resulted in a narrow 1-0 victory against Luxembourg, thanks to a second-half goal from Inter Milan’s rising star, Pio Esposito.
In contrast, Turkey qualified for their the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending a two-decade absence from the tournament, and they are set to play Venezuela in a final preparatory match before the World Cup kicks off.
Italy heads to Heraklion with the hope that their young talent can shine ahead of a challenging UEFA Nations League season that includes matches against France, Belgium, and Turkey later this year.
Greece, similarly, faced disappointment after finishing third in their World Cup qualifying group, trailing Scotland. Despite earlier success in the Nations League, including a historic win over England at Wembley, Ivan Jovanovic’s squad has struggled to maintain consistency recently.
In their last match, Greece needed a last-minute equalizer from Giorgios Masouras to secure a 2-2 draw with Sweden, marking their only win in the last eight games ahead of the friendly on Sunday.
Team News
Italy is likely to continue its strategy of integrating young players, as 15 individuals made their senior debuts in the game against Luxembourg. Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected to lead the team as captain, while Pio Esposito might also start in the lineup.
According to their official X handle, Marco Palestra, a 21-year-old right-back on loan from Atalanta to Cagliari, has departed the Azzurri training camp and will be unavailable for the June 7 friendly against Greece due to a non-recoverable adductor injury.
This update comes after Italy’s recent triumph over Luxembourg, where interim coach Silvio Baldini experimented with a lineup that featured several players making their senior debuts.
Greece is anticipated to rally a strong squad, featuring Vangelis Pavlidis, with Kostas Tsimikas and Christos Tzolis also expected to take the field.
Possible Lineups
Greece possible starting lineup:
Tzolakis; Vagiannidis, Retsos, Mavropanos, Tsimikas; Zafeiris, Kourbelis, Triantis; Tzolis; Douvikas, Pavlidis
Italy possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Fortini, Comuzzo, Ahanor, Bartesaghi; Ndour, Lipani, Pisilli; Fini, Esposito, Koleosho
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | DSTV Now |
| Kick-off Time | 20:00 (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts Greece 2-1 Italy.
As both teams undertake reconstruction following World Cup disappointments, Greece might have a slight edge due to a more seasoned and stable squad. Meanwhile, Italy’s young roster, while filled with potential, might face challenges related to their inexperience during this transitional phase.
