The Italian coach, Gennaro Gattuso, announced on Friday the list of 28 players called up for the crucial World Cup qualifying play-off matches. The big news is the debut of Marco Palestra, right-back from Cagliari, while Federico Chiesa, winger from Liverpool, is back in the squad options for the Azzurri. The call-up also includes the returns of Giorgio Scalvini and Niccolò Pisilli, who have been absent since March and November 2024, respectively. Sandro Tonali, midfielder from Newcastle, has also been included, dispelling doubts about his physical condition following the match between the Magpies and Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League. Italy will face Northern Ireland on March 26 in Bergamo. If victorious, the Azzurri will play the play-off final away on the 31st against the winner of the match between Wales and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Goalkeepers: Elia Caprile (Cagliari), Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), and Alex Meret (Napoli); Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Diego Coppola (Paris FC), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Marco Palestra (Cagliari), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), and Leonardo Spinazzola (Napoli); Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), and Sandro Tonali (Newcastle); Forwards: Federico Chiesa (Liverpool), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Atalanta), Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah), and Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta). 📋💙 The list of 28 players called up by Coach Gennaro Gattuso for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying Playoffs 🙌🏻 #Nazionale 🇮🇹 #Azzurri #Vivo Azzurro
The Italian Gennaro Gattuso remains central to this story.
The Italian Gennaro Gattuso remains central to this story.
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