Roberto Mancini Calls up Only One Lazio Player for Italy Camp
Italy head coach Roberto Mancini called up 31 players for the November international break, including Lazio midfielder Davide Frattesi.
Davide Frattesi Keeps His Place in Italy Squad
The 61-year-old, who recently returned to the Azzurri dugout, had already called up the former Sassuolo player for the extended September-October international break. The Roman was heavily involved in the action, with many considering him among Italy’s best overall performers.
Therefore, Mancini’s decision to recall the 27-year-old was hardly a surprise, even if his form slightly dipped after a sensational start to his Lazio stint.
Zaccagni Injured, Floriani Mussolini Overlooked
Frattesi won’t be joined by any of his Lazio teammates. His club captain, Mattia Zaccagni, was in fine form, but he suffered a muscle injury during Sunday’s win over Cagliari, which could keep him out for a month. Romano Floriani Mussolini was said to be on Mancini’s shortlist thanks to his recent rise to prominence, but the full-back was eventually snubbed.
In addition to the usual suspects, the 31-man squad included fresh names like 17-year-old Como midfielder Riccardo Cassano and 18-year-old Parma forward Simone Lontani. However, the two teenagers are only expected to spend the first few days among the seniors before rejoining Italy’s U18 and U19 squads respectively.
Italy Will Play France & Belgium
The Azzurri will host France at San Siro on November 12 before playing Belgium away from home on November 15 in their last two UEFA Nations League group-stage fixtures. Mancini’s men collected seven points in their first four outings, having lost to Belgium on the opening matchday, beaten Turkiye home and away, and drawn with Zinedine Zidane’s side at the Stade de France.
They need to finish either first or second in the group to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Full Italy Squad
Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Man City), Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus).
Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Crystal Palace), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Daniele Ghilardi (Roma), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Marco Palestra (Chelsea), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta).
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Riccardo Cassano (Como), Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP), Nicolò Fagioli (Fiorentina), Davide Frattesi (Lazio), Simone Lontani (Parma), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Samuele Ricci (Como), Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), Sandro Tonali (Tottenham).
Attackers: Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna), Alphadjo Cissé (Milan), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Luca Koleosho (Paris FC), Mattia Liberali (Como), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), Nicolo Zaniolo (Udinese).
