Mancini announces Italy squad for matches against France and Belgium in UEFA Nations League

Roberto Mancini, the head coach of the Italy national team, has announced the list of players called up for the last two matches in the group stage of the UEFA Nations League, against France and Belgium on November 12 and 15, as part of Group A of League A.

The squad, which includes 31 players, features four new faces for the first time: Riccardo Calafiori, a midfielder from Como born in 2009, Simone Lontani, a midfielder from Parma born in 2008, along with Alvado Cissé, a forward from AC Milan born in 2006, and Mattia Liberali, a forward from Como born in 2007. The Italian Football Federation clarified that Calafiori and Lontani will not remain with the senior national team for the entire gathering, as they will later join the Under-18 and Under-19 teams respectively.

The squad includes goalkeepers Marco Carnesecchi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Guglielmo Vicario, while the defenders list features Honesty Ahanor, Alessandro Bastoni, Riccardo Calafiori, Federico Dimarco, Daniele Ghilardi, Michael Caiozzi, Gianluca Mancini, Marco Palestra, and Giorgio Scalvini.

In midfield, Mancini has summoned Nicolò Barella, Riccardo Calafiori, Simone Lonatani, Issa Doumbia, Nicolò Fagioli, Davide Frattesi, Nicolò Pizelli, Samuele Ricci, Alessandro Romano, and Sandro Tonali. As for the attack, his list includes Nicolò Cambiaghi, Alvado Cissé, Pio Esposito, Sebastiano Esposito, Lucas Coliushu, Mattia Liberali, Gianluca Scamacca, Antonio Vergara, and Nicolò Zaniolo.

Italy sit second in Group A with 7 points from four matches, behind leaders France who have 10 points. Belgium are third with 6 points, while Türkiye sit bottom of the table with no points. Italy need positive results in the final two rounds to boost their qualification hopes.

Italy will host France on November 12 in Milan at the San Siro stadium, at 20:45 local time, before visiting Belgium in Brussels on the 15th of the same month.