Newly appointed Italy Men’s National Team coach Luciano Spalletti has named his first squad ahead of the upcoming 2024 European Championship Qualification fixtures. The Azzurri face North Macedonia on September 9, before a home clash against Ukraine at Milan’s Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 12.
Italy are due to convene for the first time since the start of the 2023/24 Serie A season, and Spalletti is set to make his debut on the bench after replacing Roberto Mancini last month. The former Napoli coach, who won the scudetto last season, was appointed after Mancini resigned and took up the Saudi Arabia national team post.
The most notable inclusions are the uncapped Lazio defender Nicolo Casale, as well as the return to the set-up of Aquile teammate Mattia Zacagni and AS Roma centre-back Gianluca Mancini. Wilfried Gnonto is also included, despite suffering relegation from the Premier League with Leeds United last season. However, there is no room for Leonardo Bonucci or Marco Verratti.
Italy squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers
Goalkeepers
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Ivan Provedel (Lazio), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham Hotspur).
Defenders
Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Cristiano Biraghi (Fiorentina), Nicolo Casale (Lazio), Matteo Darmian (Inter), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Gianluca Mancini (AS Roma), Alessio Romagnoli (Lazio), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Leonardo Spinazzola (AS Roma).
Midfielders
Nicolo Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (AS Roma), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Lorenzo Pellegrini (AS Roma), Matteo Pessina (Monza), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United).
Forwards
Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds United), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Genoa), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio), Nicolo Zaniolo (Aston Villa).
