Domenico Berardi and Andrea Pinamonti have left the Italy squad for the Finalissima with Argentina and Nations League games due to injury, while Roberto Mancini confirms that will be Giorgio Chiellini’s final cap.
The Sassuolo right-sided attacking winger and Empoli centre-forward, on loan from Inter, have pulled out of the upcoming four matches.
It is particularly disappointing for Pinamonti, as this would’ve been his first call-up to the senior Italy squad.
Federico Chiesa, Ciro Immobile, Gaetano Castrovilli and Rafael Toloi were already unavailable.
Instead, Mancini has called up Federico Gatti of Frosinone, on loan from Juventus, FC Zurich’s Inter product Wilfried Gnonto, Frosinone’s Alessio Zerbin, Salvatore Esposito of SPAL, Samuele Ricci from Torino and Verona’s Matteo Cancellieri.
While the new faces come through, others bow out, as Mancini confirmed the Finalissima with Argentina at Wembley Stadium on June 1 will be the final cap for Chiellini.
“I won’t try to convince him otherwise, Chiellini has made his decision. I will thank him again for all that he has done, but it’s only right he follow his own path,” said the coach in a press conference.
Chiellini has left Juventus and is expected to sign for MLS club LAFC.
Italy will face Argentina on June 1 for the Finalissima between European and South American Champions, then the Nations League begins.
They host Germany on June 4 and Hungary on June 7, visit England on June 11 and Germany on June 14.
Italy squad:
Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Cagliari), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Genoa);
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Cristiano Biraghi (Fiorentina), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Davide Calabria (Milan), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Emerson Palmieri (Olympique Lyonnais), Alessandro Florenzi (Milan), Federico Gatti (Frosinone), Manuel Lazzari (Lazio), Luiz Felipe (Lazio), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma);
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Salvatore Esposito (Spal), Davide Frattesi (Sassuolo), Jorginho (Chelsea), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Matteo Pessina (Atalanta), Tommaso Pobega (Torino), Samuele Ricci (Torino), Sandro Tonali (Milan), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain);
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Matteo Cancellieri (Verona), Gianluca Caprari (Verona), Wilfried Gnonto (FC Zurich), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Moise Kean (Juventus), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo), Gianluca Scamacca (Sassuolo), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio), Nicolò Zaniolo (Roma), Alessio Zerbin (Frosinone).
#Nazionale 🇮🇹
📹 La sintesi della conferenza stampa di inizio raduno di @robymancio #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/nU1AgYec5f
— Nazionale Italiana ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri) May 27, 2022
Great to see these young players but please stop picking Belotti and give Balotelli another shot
Wilfried Gnonto is a real talent. Good to see him included.
Belotti last scored for Italy 28th May 2021 in a friendly against San Marino. That says it all
Put some of those Milan and Roma players, they’re all fired up!
And plz bring Balo as super sub for added spice!
From squad that squad selection the best line up based on form and/or ability but not loyalty…
Donnarumma
Spinazzola Bastoni Bonucci Calabria
Veratti Tonali Barella
Zaniolo Scamacca Pellegrini
Subs should have been Udogie, Scalvini, Locatelli/Frattesi, Raspadori/Gnonto/Salcedo, Balotelli
Add Chiesa to that mix obviously as a starter with Zaniolo, the above are the key squad members going forwards.
Where is the room for has-been / no hopers – Immobile Belotti Insigne Berardi Jorginho Bernadeschi Acerbi – they are all either too old taking to account future tournaments or bang average, for a country as big in football as Italy that’s not good enough. Of all those players only Berardi could perhaps sneak in to a squad but a squad player only, never a starter – compared to Chiesa and Zaniolo there are levels… Two from Raspadori,Gnonto,Salcedo offer more dynamism and excitement that Berardi does anyway.
No doubt Mancini will find an excuse to play Chellini instead of giving Bastoni the experience, and give Mr (fails in big moments) Jorginho will get the nod, as well as the retirement dream Canada Insigne, we’ll probably see real star quality in Zaniolo on the bench too, maybe even Belotti starting over Scamacca, some or all of these scenarios won’t surprise me.
At best they’ll keep the result close perhaps a draw until Bastoni for Chiellini, Tonali for Jorginho, Zaniolo for Insigne, Scamacca for Belotti and Italy take the lead or look more dangerous – still Mancini won’t see it, he’ll think his starting tactics were a masterstroke to keep the game tight, and thus continue to play the same favouritism line up… I hope this is proved wrong but I’m not getting my hopes up.
Italy have an incredible array of talent comparable to any national team, perhaps potentially better than all, and all whilst dumping the has-been/ no hopers, but whether we get to see it, is another question.
Federico chiesa???????
Yes, give Balo another shot!
He thrives on these occasions.
He’s a big match player & that’s exactly what Italy needs at the moment.
Balo has something to prove & that’s good reason for something special to happen not just for him, but more importantly Italy. A team that needs to up amongst the worlds best & redemption for Mario Balotelli.
Always injuries with these guys.
They stub their pinky and they are out 6 Months. Toughen up already.