Italy defeats Greece as Pisilli shines for Roma midfielder

AS Roma will play a friendly against AS Cannes on 26 July in Rome, bringing together two clubs owned by the Friedkin family. Both sides enjoyed successful 2025–26 seasons: Roma finished third in Serie A and secured Champions League qualification for the first time under Friedkin ownership after seven years, while Cannes achieved historic promotion to France's third tier (Championnat National 1) for the first time in 15 years. For Gasperini's squad, the match serves as a useful test during the early phase of pre-season preparation before facing stronger opponents. Roma will next play Borussia Dortmund on 15 August. The friendly represents a significant prestige fixture for Cannes but carries particular value for Roma as a controlled stepping stone in their summer training programme ahead of the new campaign. Gasperini commented on the ownership structure, stating: "A greater presence from the Friedkins is needed. With them, Roma is stronger." The fixture highlights the expanding portfolio of the Friedkin Group in European football and offers both clubs important competitive minutes during the off-season.

Donyell Malen squandered a straightforward goal-scoring opportunity in a Netherlands warm-up match against Uzbekistan, which the Dutch won 2–0 through two penalties converted by Gakpo. Malen, a current AS Roma player, failed to capitalize on the chance in the penalty area—an uncharacteristic error for him. This marked his second blank outing in the pre-World Cup friendlies, having also failed to score in an earlier test against Algeria, which ended in defeat. Netherlands coach Koeman addressed the finishing concerns in his post-match press conference, acknowledging the squad's broader issue with converting opportunities. The coach noted that in both recent friendlies, the team had scored only from penalties, adding pressure to performers in open play. Koeman stated: "In these two matches we've scored two goals from penalties. We create the chances, but if we don't score these matches we risk drawing them. Summerville and Malen missed two goals." The Netherlands opens its World Cup campaign on 14 June against Japan, followed by matches against Sweden and Tunisia. Malen's involvement in those fixtures will be closely watched given his recent form in front of goal during the preparatory phase.

Donyell Malen featured as a starter for the Netherlands in a friendly match against Uzbekistan, which ended in a 2–1 victory for the Dutch. Malen played for 65 minutes before being substituted by Brobbey. The Netherlands, managed by Koeman, secured the win through two penalties converted by Gakpo, with the second coming at the end of regular time. Uzbekistan, captained by Shomurodov, provided the opposition in what served as a final warm-up fixture ahead of the upcoming tournament. For the Roma attacker, this friendly represents preparation before a significant group-stage encounter scheduled for June 14 against Japan, with kickoff at 22:00. Malen shared the attacking line with Summerville, who also started in the Dutch attacking triad. The match allowed both players to develop their understanding and rhythm as the international competition draws near. Malen will now return to focus on Roma's preparations after completing this national team commitment. His involvement in the friendly confirms his fitness and readiness for the competitive fixtures ahead.

Italy won a international friendly against Greece, with Pio Esposito scoring the decisive goal. Niccolò Pisilli, the AS Roma midfielder, played the full 90 minutes for Italy. Silvio Baldini, named interim national team coach, secured his second consecutive victory in charge. Greece's Tsimikas entered the match during the second half. Pisilli's full-match appearance provides Roma with confirmation of his fitness and form at international level, following his development as a key youth prospect in the club's midfield setup.

Niccolò Pisilli has been selected to start for Italy's final summer friendly match against Greece in Creta on 21:00. Italy manager Silvio Baldini has again placed confidence in the AS Roma midfielder, described as one of the few certainties in a national team with a notably young average age. The match serves as important preparation ahead of the upcoming international calendar. Pisilli has emerged as a key player for Baldini's squad despite a season with mixed fortunes at Roma. The midfielder's inclusion underscores his importance to the national setup, even as he looks to build momentum following a campaign marked by inconsistency. His continued selection reflects the coaching staff's faith in his abilities and potential. Elsewhere, in New Jersey, Morocco will face Norway in a World Cup preparation match, with Neil El Aynaoui starting for the North African side under manager Ouahbi. The coming weeks offer Pisilli an opportunity to deliver performances that can help redeem what has been an uneven season for the giallorossi.

Niccolò Pisilli is set to captain Italy's youth side in their match against Greece, following an impressive performance in the victory over Luxembourg. The Roma centrocampist has been one of the standout players in this age-group campaign and is expected to deliver another strong showing. Head coach Gasperini's work has been instrumental in Pisilli's development, and Roma are monitoring his continued progress closely. Beyond Pisilli's individual performance, Roma have a secondary focus for the match: Tzolis, a winger currently at Brugge. The player has long been on Roma's radar and remains a target, though the club has not yet made a concrete move. Bringing Tzolis to Rome would require a fee exceeding €30 million, making it a significant investment. The Grecia–Italia fixture offers Roma staff an opportunity to assess Tzolis's quality in person and gather additional insights that may inform future recruitment decisions. The match thus presents a dual interest for the Giallorossi: celebrating Pisilli's development under Gasperini's guidance and evaluating a potential future teammate in Tzolis. While Roma remain patient in their pursuit of the Brugge player, tonight's game could provide valuable information to support any future transfer strategy.