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.

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.”