FIFA World Cup 2022 playoffs: Italy 2022 World Cup squad – Italy have named their 33-man squad for their upcoming World Cup playoff against North Macedonia. The big news sees Mario Balotelli miss out after he had trained with the team earlier this year, while Lazio defender Luiz Felipe and Cagliari striker Joao Pedro earn their first call ups. A win over North Macedonia would see Italy take on either Portugal or Turkey as they eye a spot at Qatar 2022. Federico Chiesa and Leonardo Spinazzola are going to be big misses at the playoffs for the Azzurri. Follow InsideSPort.IN for the latest Football news and updates.
FIFA World Cup 2022 playoffs: Roberto Mancini names his Italy squad for the LAST chance to reach the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – Check out the Full 33-man squad
Roberto Mancini’s 33-man #Azzurri squad for the 2022 World Cup play-offs 📋#WCQ #VivoAzzurro 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/0KL5FH1bcN
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) March 18, 2022
FIFA World Cup 2022 playoffs: Roberto Mancini names his Italy squad
The Italy team returns to the field to play through the playoffs the last chance to win the pass for the Qatar 2022 World Cup: first the semifinal against North Macedonia (‘Renzo Barbera’ Stadium in Palermo, Thursday 24 March at 8.45 pm) and , if successful, the final against the winner of Portugal-Turkey (Tuesday 29 March, in Porto or Konya).
The group includes Lazio defender Luiz Felipe and Cagliari striker Joao Pedro, both on their first call-up to the national team after the call in the internship at the end of January, while Mattia Zaccagni is on the second call after the one in November 2020.
Matteo Politano, who took the field last time in the pre-European friendly with San Marino, Stefano Sensi and Pierluigi Gollini, absent from September 2021, return to wear the blue shirt. Manuel Locatelli tested positive for Covid-19 and will return after the end of his isolation.
FIFA World Cup 2022 playoffs: Italy’s LAST chance to reach the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
ITALY-NORTH MACEDONIA. There are only 2 previous matches with North Macedonia, both in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, success in Skopje in comeback (2-3) and draw in Turin (1-1). It will instead be the 16th match in the history of the Azzurri in Palermo: the balance is 13 victories (open series of 6 consecutive), one draw and one defeat. In total 35 goals scored and 8 conceded.
FIFA World Cup 2022 playoffs: Italy’s Full 33-man squad
Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Cagliari), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint Germain), Pierluigi Gollini (Tottenham), Salvatore Sirigu (Genoa);
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Cristiano Biraghi (Fiorentina), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Emerson Palmieri (Lyon), Alessandro Florenzi (AC Milan) , Luiz Felipe (Lazio), Gianluca Mancini (Roma);
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho (Chelsea), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Matteo Pessina (Atalanta), Stefano Sensi (Sampdoria), Sandro Tonali (AC Milan), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain);
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Joao Pedro (Cagliari), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo), Gianluca Scamacca (Sassuolo) Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio), Nicolò Zaniolo (Roma).
FIFA World Cup 2022 playoffs: Roberto Mancini names his Italy squad for the LAST chance to reach the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – Check out the Full 33-man squad
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