Bitter debut – Luca Reggiani sent off on his international debut | OneFootball

The Italian national team also won its second international match before the summer break. The Squadra Azzurra, who failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, won 1-0 in Greece on Sunday evening after previously recording the same result in Luxembourg. With Luca Reggiani, a young Borussia Dortmund professional will likely never forget the match played in Heraklion for the rest of his life.

Like his Dortmund teammates Filippo Mane and Samuele Inacio, Reggiani started the match on the bench, but like Mane before him, he was brought on as a substitute. In the 55th minute, Reggiani came on for Pietro Comuzzo, who had suffered a calf injury, making his debut for the senior national team. However, the 18-year-old’s first appearance in national colors was over just 13 minutes later.

After bringing down Anastasios Douvikas as the last man, Reggiani was shown a red card on his debut and from then on had to watch from the sidelines as his teammates defended against conceding while down a man. They ultimately did so successfully, as Italy won thanks to Pio Esposito’s goal in the 18th minute, also securing victory in the second match under interim coach Silvio Baldini, who will again be in charge of the U21s next season – and thus presumably also of the three BVB talents for the time being, who were given their senior debuts mainly because, apart from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, these two friendlies after the failed World Cup qualification were contested entirely by the U21 squad.

Tough competition at BVB

It will probably take a while before Reggiani is included in Italy’s senior national team squad again. For the youngster, the immediate focus is on fighting for playing time at BVB, which will presumably not become any easier with the additional competition from Joane Gadou (Red Bull Salzburg).

Photo: IMAGO

Alongside Waldemar Anton, Nico Schlotterbeck and Gadou, Ramy Bensebaini and, once he has recovered, Emre Can are also options for the expected back three. Reggiani and Mane therefore face a tough battle for minutes, which could become even more difficult should BVB actually also bring in the apparently targeted Bastien Meupiyou (FC Alverca).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.