Baldini: ‘Mancini could call up several U21 players, I rooted for Frosinone against Como’

Baldini: ‘Mancini could call up several U21 players, I rooted for Frosinone against Como’ 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. CREMONA, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Coach Silvio Baldini of Italy reacts during the UEFA Euro U21 Qualification match between Italy and Armenia at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 14, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images) 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. EMPOLI, ITALY – MARCH 26: Jeff Ekhator of Italy U21 celebrates after scoring the team’s third goal with Michael Kayode and Luca Kaleosho during the UEFA Under 21 EURO Qualifier match between Italy U21 and North Macedonia U21 at Stadio Carlo Castellani on March 26, 2026 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) 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. Baldini on Italy U21s, potential senior call-ups and Frosinone pride “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. CESENA, ITALY – OCTOBER 10: Silvio Baldini head coach of Italy U21 during the UEFA Under21 EURO Qualifier betweenItaly U21 v Sweden U21 and ad hoc Arena im Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld on October 10, 2025 in Cesena, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) 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. “This is a group that fills me with pride when we train and pride when we play. It was a great feeling in June, and as a result of it, the guys in the U21s have matured faster. “They’re all happy and excited to meet up again and to prepare for our upcoming matches. The next 10 days will allow us to pay more attention to certain details by focusing on certain elements that are usually tougher to organise in a shorter period of time.” He added that several of the current U21s squad could have been called up to the senior squad in September and October, and that there is still a large chance they will do in the next international break. FLORENCE – JANUARY 17: Alphadjo Cisse� of Italy looks on during the International Friendly between Italy U19 and Spain U19 at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on January 17, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) “Mancini knows this group very well. He knows which players could be useful to him, and I think that he’s left several of them with us because we have these important qualifying matches to play. So, maybe during the next break some of the guys who are here today could be with the senior national team.” Baldini went on to discuss his pleasure at seeing Frosinone sitting in sixth place in the Serie A table, level on points with Milan and Juventus and above the likes of Como and Atalanta. Baldini has called up five Frosinone players to his Italy U21 squad. “Alvini’s is a great story: Somebody who started in the amateur leagues and has now made it all the way up to Serie A. They’re not just winning, but winning in an extraordinary way. FROSINONE – SEPTEMBER 20: Massimiliano Alvini of Frosinone Calcio celebrates during the Serie A match between Frosinone Calcio and Como 1907 at Stadio Benito Stirpe on September 20, 2026 in Frosinone, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) “On Sunday, they faced one of the best teams in Serie A, Como. I have nothing against Como, but I supported Frosinone. I rooted for Alvini because I feel that ‘our’ football is better represented by Frosinone than it is by Como, not for any other reason. “I’m happy, we have five players from Frosinone, and they know that in order to stay at the top, they have to continue dreaming and working hard. Nothing is impossible.”