Reports are Cesare Prandelli’s key decision in naming his provisional Italy squad for the World Cup is between Giuseppe Rossi and Emanuele Giaccherini.
Reports are Cesare Prandelli’s key decision in naming his provisional Italy squad for the World Cup is between Giuseppe Rossi and Emanuele Giaccherini.
The CT is today due to list a 30-man selection ahead of the summer tournament in Brazil, from which a final 23-man squad will be formed.
Speculation in more than one outlet is that Fiorentina’s” data-scaytid=”5″>Fiorentina’s Rossi may get the nod in a bid to prove his fitness after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee injury.
Whilst Prandelli has stated he intends to call seven strikers for the provisional list, Sky Sport Italia are guessing that the Coach will in fact list eight, to accommodate Rossi, whilst also calling up Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano, Alessio Cerci, Ciro Immobile, Mattia Destro, Alberto Gilardino and Lorenzo Insigne.
If Rossi is included, it is understood that it will come at Emanuele Giaccherini’s expense, with the diminutive Sunderland midfielder otherwise seen as in contention for a midfield spot.
The rest of that midfield selection is rumoured to include Antonio Candreva, Marco Parolo, Thiago Motta and Marco Verratti, alongside the expected names of Daniele De Rossi, Claudio Marchisio, Riccardo Montolivo and Andrea Pirlo.
Defence will apparently include Ignazio Abate, Davide Astori, Domenico Criscito, Mattia De Sciglio, Christian Maggio, Gabriel Paletta and Romulo alongside regulars Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini.
Prandelli will also seemingly list four goalkeepers in the provisional squad, including Mattia Perin and Antonio Mirante alongside expected tournament ‘keepers Gianluigi Buffon and Salvatore Sirigu.
If this squad list is accurate, then the likes of Simone Scuffet, Matteo Darmian, Lorenzo De Silvestri, Manuel Pasqual, Andrea Ranocchia, Alesandro Florenzi, Alberto Aquilani, Andrea Poli, Domenico Berardi, Dani Osvaldo and Stephan El Shaarawy will have missed out.
These players and more were called up as part of the 42-man squad for April’s set of physical tests, designed as part of Prandelli’s intention to better prepare the players for Brazil’s climate.
Consider the options open to Cesare Prandelli with Football Italia’s World Cup Squad Selector.