On Thursday, Italy coach Roberto Mancini revealed the names of the 37 players called up for the national team’s upcoming fixtures against Bosnia and the Netherlands on September 4 and 7 as part of the second edition of the UEFA’s Nation League competition.
With Euro 2021 set to take place next summer, the Nations League will present an opportunity for the national team coach to test different ideas. That explains the call-ups for an enormous number of players including some debutants.
So let us take a closer look at the 37 players involved:
Goalkeepers
Branded as Gianluigi Buffon’s natural heir, Milan’s Gianluigi Donnarumma will almost definitely be between the sticks for the upcoming fixtures.
Despite coming from a difficult season at Torino, veteran Salvatore Sirigu can still be considered a reliable number two in this department.
Cagliari’s Alessio Cragno suffered major injuries last season but was able to come back strong in the latter parts and thus complete the goalkeeper call-ups alongside Napoli’s Alex Meret.
Defenders
Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini has been included despite an injury-plagued season, but if he won’t be fit enough to start then Mancini will give the captain armband to his Juventus teammate Leonardo Bonucci.
Francesco Acerbi is coming from a stellar season at Lazio and thus deserves a starting spot in the heart of the defense.
The other options at center-back are Mattia Caldara, who impressed again at Atalanta, Roma’s Gianluca Mancini, and Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni who just received his first call-up.
At right-back, Napoli’s Giovanni Di Lorenzo should be the favorite to start ahead of Roma outcast Alessandro Florenzi, but the versatile Inter defender Danilo D’Ambrosio might as well earn some playing time.
On the left side, Roma’s Leonardo Spinazzola has probably done enough over the course of the season to cement a starting spot ahead of Inter’s Cristiano Biraghi and Juventus youngster Luca Pellegrini.
Notable absentees include Milan captain Alessio Romagnoli who finished last season with an injury and Lazio wing-back Manuel Lazzari.
Midfielders
In the absence of Marco Verratti, Chelsea’s Jorginho should lead a stunning group of young midfielders, but Brescia’s Sandro Tonali and Sassuolo’s Manuel Locatelli will try to push for a starting spot in the regista role.
Inter and Roma will be represented with three midfielders each. But Nicoló Barella and Lorenzo Pellegrini could complete the starting midfield trio ahead of their respective teammates Roberto Gagliardini, Stefano Sensi, Bryan Crsitante, and Nicoló Zaniolo who is also capable of playing further in the attack.
Also called up are Fiorentina talent Gaetano Castrovilli and the currently free-agent Giacomo “Jack” Bonaventura.
Forwards
On the back of a stunning 2019-2020 season, European Golden-Shoe winner Ciro Immobile should undoubtedly lead the attack. His alternatives include Torino’s Andrea Belotti, Udinese’s Kevin Lasagna, and the first time called-up Francesco Caputo from Sassuolo.
Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne should start on the left-wing ahead of Stephan El-Shaarawy, currently plying his trade in the Chinese super league with Shanghai Shenhua.
On the right-wing Juve’s Federico Bernardeschi will compete for a starting spot with his former Fiorentina teammate Federico Chiesa, with Bologna’s Riccardo Orsolini being the outside bet, as well as Everton’s youngster Moise Kean who has previously played on the wing in the Italy lineup of Mancini.
The Roberto Mancini Italy Call-Up Full List
Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Cagliari), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Alex Meret (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Torino);
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Cristiano Biraghi (Inter), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Mattia Caldara (Atalanta), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Danilo D’Ambrosio (Inter), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Luca Pellegrini (Juventus), Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma);
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Giacomo Bonaventura, Gaetano Castrovilli (Fiorentina), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho (Chelsea), Roberto Gagliardini (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Stefano Sensi (Inter), Sandro Tonali* (Brescia), Nicolò Zaniolo (Roma);
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Francesco Caputo (Sassuolo), Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina), Stephan El Shaarawy (Shanghai Shenua), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Moise Kean (Everton), Kevin Lasagna (Udinese), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna)