Italy coach Roberto Mancini included three uncapped gamers in a 30-man squad because the Euro 2020 champions look to kick off their qualifying marketing campaign for the 2024 event in opposition to England and Malta later this month.
Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone, Torino defender Alessandro Buongiorno and Atletico Tigre striker Mateo Retegui had been all named within the nationwide squad for the primary time, bringing Mancini’s whole variety of gamers known as up for Italy to 102.
“We’ve been following Retegui for a while, he’s been playing regularly in the Argentine league for two seasons. He has qualities that we currently lack,” Mancini stated.
Mancini, nonetheless, faces a headache in terms of selecting strikers as Ciro Immobile is out injured whereas Napoli’s Giacomo Raspadori and Gianluca Scamacca of West Ham United have lacked enjoying time.
“Raspadori is an important player for us but he doesn’t play much. Scamacca is coming from an injury and doesn’t play much either. The lads can improve only if they play.”
Scamacca was included within the squad whereas Raspadori was ignored.
Italy will host England in Naples on Thursday after which journey to Malta on March 26.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Wladimiro Falcone, Alex Meret, Ivan Provedel.
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi, Leonardo Bonucci, Alessandro Buongiorno, Matteo Darmian, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Federico Dimarco, Alessio Romagnoli, Giorgio Scalvini, Leonardo Spinazzola, Rafael Toloi.
Midfielders: Nicolo Barella, Bryan Cristante, Davide Frattesi, Jorginho, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Matteo Pessina, Sandro Tonali, Marco Verratti.
Attackers: Domenico Berardi, Federico Chiesa, Wilfried Gnonto, Vincenzo Grifo, Simone Pafundi, Matteo Politano, Mateo Retegui, Gianluca Scamacca.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com