Esposito: ‘It happened fast, but first Italy goal must be a starting point’

Francesco Pio Esposito is keeping his feet on the ground after his first senior Italy goal at the age of 20. ‘It all happened so fast, but it has to be a starting point. I don’t like to rest on my laurels.’

The Azzurri had got off to a bright start in Estonia this evening, with Moise Kean opening the scoring within five minutes, but then forced off soon after with a sprained ankle.

Mateo Retegui had a mixed game, because while he saw his penalty saved, he did get on the scoresheet when sweeping in the Riccardo Orsolini pull-back from the by-line.

Esposito made history with his first senior Italy goal, although the clean sheet was ruined when Gianluigi Donnarumma fumbled a cross into the path of Rauno Sappinen.

Italy duck broken by Esposito

There was applause in the locker room from the older Italy players for the young man.

“I thank the team and the coach for the way they welcomed me, there is this fantastic harmony in the squad and it makes it easier for us all to play,” Esposito told Sky Sport Italia.

“I am very happy, but the credit goes to my teammates, for putting me in the right circumstances to do well.”

Because Kean went off so early, it allowed Italy to experiment with this brand new strike partnership of Retegui and Esposito.

“It is important when there are two forwards to put ego aside, so you can play for each other. Who scores is not important, what matters is taking the result home as a team.”

Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Estonia 1-3 Italy

This has been a remarkable few weeks for the man who turned 20 in June, as he recently scored his first Serie A goal for Inter and now his first senior Italy strike.

“I am very emotional, these are things you almost cannot fully comprehend in the moment. It has all happened so fast, but this has to be the starting point. I am self-critical and don’t like to rest on my laurels.

“I dedicate the goal to my family, who has always been there and helped me reach this objective.”

Italy now have the opportunity to push Israel out of the running for 2026 World Cup qualification, as even though catching Norway seems practically impossible with their superior goal difference, the play-off spot is up for grabs.

“We cannot keep looking back, we need to focus on the games that are still ahead of us and try to do as well as possible. That’s all we can do now,” concluded Esposito.