Italy manager Roberto Mancini has named a 28-man squad ahead of November's World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Norther Ireland.
The Azzurri currently sit joint top of Group C along with the Swiss on 14 points, and a victory against them next week would all but confirm their qualification for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Eight players who were not selected in October's squad have been called up by Mancini this month, including a first senior call up for Torino's 22-year-old midfielder Tommaso Pobega.
#Nazionale 🇮🇹
— Nazionale Italiana ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri) November 5, 2021
📋 I 28 #Azzurri convocati dal Ct #Mancini per le gare di qualificazione al #Mondiale contro #Svizzera e #IrlandaDelNord
La notizia 👉🏻 https://t.co/ch2lwSJpJu#WCQ #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/Y9ma5S2UXY
Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio Cragno has returned to the Italian squad for the first time since May, though the 27-year-old, along with Alex Meret and Salvatore Sirigu, are unlikely to displace first-choice stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the first XI.
Defensive trio Cristiano Biraghi, Davide Calabria and Gianluca Mancini have all been added to the squad, while Pobega, Nicolo Zaniolo and Sandro Tonali – who has been selected by the national team for the first time in a year – have all been selected to bolster Mancini's midfield options.
Striker Andrea Belotti is another player who has returned, after missing out last month due to injury, and is set to rival Ciro Immobile and Giacomo Raspadori for the central striking role.
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti has not been selected as he continues to recover from a hip injury, while Atalanta duo Matteo Pessina and Rafael Toloi have also been forced to pull out as they are both suffering with thigh problems.
Italy's first match with Switzerland will take place at the Stadio Olimpico on November 12, before Mancini's men travel to Belfast for their encounter with Northern Ireland three days later.
Oliver Thomas
