Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti has finalized his 26-man squad for the upcoming European Championship, with midfielder Nicolò Barella making the cut despite missing their last game due to injury. Barella, a crucial part of Spalletti’s plans, was sidelined for the 0-0 draw against Turkey, but his minor muscle strain was deemed not serious enough to exclude him from the squad.
Changes in the Defensive Lineup
Federico Gatti, who was called up to the provisional squad following the withdrawal of defenders Francesco Acerbi and Giorgio Scalvini, has retained his spot in the final group for the tournament in Germany. However, goalkeeper Ivan Provedel has been left out, with concerns over the fitness of Napoli’s Alex Meret. Additionally, Samuele Ricci and Riccardo Orsolini did not make the final cut, with Orsolini failing to impress in the game against Turkey.
Despite missing out on the last match, Bologna’s Riccardo Calafiori has been included in the squad after making his international debut as a substitute. Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli, who recently served a ban for betting violations, has also made the team, earning his second cap against Turkey. Italy will face Bosnia in their final warm-up game before heading to Germany to defend their title in a challenging Group B that includes Spain, Croatia, and Albania.
– **Goalkeepers**: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham Hotspur)
– **Defenders**: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Raoul Bellanova (Torino), Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino), Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Inter), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Gianluca Mancini (Roma)
– **Midfielders**: Nicolo Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Nicolo Fagioli (Juventus), Michael Folorunsho (Hellas Verona), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Jorginho (Arsenal), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)
– **Forwards**: Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Genoa), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio)
Italy’s squad for Euro 2024 is a mix of experienced players and promising talents, with Spalletti hoping to lead them to success in the tournament. Despite some injury concerns and omissions, the team looks strong and ready to compete at the highest level.
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