The Gazzetta dello Sport have put together the 23-man squad list Cesare Prandelli would name for the World Cup, if he had to today.
The Azzurri face a friendly with Spain in March before post-season preparations for the competition proper in Brazil being in May.
The Gazzetta dello Sport have put together the 23-man squad list Cesare Prandelli would name for the World Cup, if he had to today.
The Azzurri face a friendly with Spain in March before post-season preparations for the competition proper in Brazil being in May.
Ahead of that, speculation is on the preferred names CT Prandelli has in mind and the Gazzetta dello Sport have run through the possible 23 currently out in front.
In goal behind Gianluigi Buffon it is seen that Roma’s Morgan De Sanctis will take the back-up shirt and that Salvatore Sirigu would just edge Federico Marchetti for the third spot.
Full-back positions are seen to be Mattia De Sciglio and Ignazio Abate’s on the right to lose and Domenico Criscito’s on the left, with Prandelli’s apparent lack of faith in the alternatives for that side allowing for Angelo Ogbonna and Giorgio Chiellini to be considered in the position too.
The Juventus duo are seen as certainties in the back-line alongside colleagues Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli.
It is speculated that Prandelli would, if selecting the squad today, only opt for seven defenders, with Daniele De Rossi doubling up as cover if required.
Alongside the Roma man in a provisional midfield would be Marco Parolo, Andrea Pirlo, Thiago Motta, Claudio Marchisio, Emanuele Giaccherini, Riccardo Montolivo and Andrea Candreva,
Alessio Cerci and Lorenzo Insigne would, for their versatility, be preferred to Alessandro Diamanti to provide the link between midfield and an attack comprising of Mario Balotelli, Pablo Osvaldo and Giuseppe Rossi.
It is suggested that whilst this is the 23 Prandelli would select today, the 56-year-old has a list of 35 players actually up for consideration, including the likes of Marco Verratti, Alessandro Florenzi, Andrea Ranocchia, Federico Balzaretti and Christian Maggio.