Esposito Brothers Eye First Italy Appearance Together Since Inzaghi Pair
Pio Esposito and Sebastiano Esposito have been selected together by Italy coach Roberto Mancini for the forthcoming UEFA Nations League programme, creating the possibility of a rare family milestone for the Azzurri. Should the brothers take the field at the same time, they would become the first Italian siblings to do so since Simone and Filippo Inzaghi appeared together for 11 minutes against England in November 2000.
What changed for Italy
The Esposito forwards are sharing a room at Coverciano during the camp and have spoken of the significance of reaching the senior squad together. Sebastiano said the opportunity represented the fulfilment of a childhood ambition for the family, while adding that the brothers are determined to repay the support given by their parents.
Mancini, himself a former Italy striker, has been offering the pair technical and mental guidance. Sebastiano highlighted advice on movement and body position in the penalty area, and also made an impression during the squad’s traditional initiation dinner performance.
Pio reflected on his first international goal, scored against Estonia, describing the finish as an instinctive moment followed by a sense of release. Sebastiano said he and older brother Salvatore celebrated that goal loudly while watching in Brescia, underlining the closeness of the three siblings.
- Pio Esposito and Sebastiano Esposito are in the same Italy squad for the Nations League.
- Salvatore Esposito is on loan at Sampdoria from Spezia.
- Salvatore won his first senior Italy cap against England on 11 June 2022.
Competition context
Italy have previously had only three sets of brothers on the pitch together in a senior international: Giuseppe and Felice Milano in 1912, Aldo and Luigi Cevenini in 1915, and the Inzaghi brothers at the turn of the century.
Other siblings have been selected in the same Italy group without sharing the field. Giuseppe and Franco Baresi were called up for Euro 1980, while twins Cristian and Damiano Zenoni were both involved in 2001.
The national side’s records also include several other notable brothers from different generations. Carlo and Alessandro Rampini represented Italy in the Pro Vercelli era; Cesare and Dario Martin featured in the 1920s; and Juventus pair Mario and Giovanni Varglien played during the 1930s. Fabio Cannavaro, Italy’s World Cup-winning captain, was also an Azzurri team-mate of his brother Paolo.
With Salvatore already capped and Pio and Sebastiano now together in the senior set-up, the Espositos have established themselves as one of Italian football’s most distinctive international families.
What is scheduled next
Mancini’s squad face a demanding Nations League window containing four matches in 15 days. The sequence begins against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
That opening fixture gives Pio and Sebastiano their first chance to add their names to Italy’s short list of brothers who have played simultaneously for the senior national team.
