Turin, 18 Sept. (LaPresse) – Four matches in eleven days: a real tour de force to regain enthusiasm and confidence following the failure to qualify for the World Cup. The national team’s campaign resumes in the Nations League, with Roberto Mancini opting for a squad of 34 players for his return to the Azzurri dugout. Nine players have been called up to the national team for the first time: Bologna goalkeeper Massimo Pessina, Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi, Brentford defender Michael Kayode, Monza defender Eddy Kouadio, Cagliari midfielder Alessandro Romano, Sporting CP midfielder Issa Doumbia, Sassuolo forward Sebastiano Esposito, Napoli forward Antonio Vergara and Nuremberg forward Mohamed Alì Zoma. Honest Ahanor (Crystal Palace) and Samuele Inacio (Borussia Dortmund) have been confirmed following their call-ups last June for the friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece, whilst Nicolò Fagioli and Nicolò Zaniolo – both absent since October 2024 – return to wear the Azzurri shirt after some time, as well as Rolando Mandragora, who was last called up in March 2021. Italy will hold their first training session at Coverciano on Monday 21 September ahead of their debut in the fifth edition of the Nations League on Friday 25 September against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Three days later, the Azzurri will travel to Turkey to face them at the Atatürk Spor Kompleksi in Bursa, before taking on France in Saint-Denis on Friday 2 October. The first international break of the season will conclude with a second home fixture against Turkey, scheduled for Monday 5 October at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in Bologna.
Football: National Team – Mancini calls up 34 players, 9 new faces, Fagioli and Zaniolo return
Turin, 18 Sept. (LaPresse) – Four matches in eleven days: a real tour de force to regain enthusiasm and confidence following the failure to qualify for the World Cup. The national team’s campaign resumes in the Nations League, with Roberto Mancini opting for a squad of 34 players for his return to the Azzurri dugout. Nine players have been called up to the national team for the first time: Bologna goalkeeper Massimo Pessina, Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi, Brentford defender Michael Kayode, Monza defender Eddy Kouadio, Cagliari midfielder Alessandro Romano, Sporting CP midfielder Issa Doumbia, Sassuolo forward Sebastiano Esposito, Napoli forward Antonio Vergara and Nuremberg forward Mohamed Alì Zoma. Honest Ahanor (Crystal Palace) and Samuele Inacio (Borussia Dortmund) have been confirmed following their call-ups last June for the friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece, whilst Nicolò Fagioli and Nicolò Zaniolo – both absent since October 2024 – return to wear the Azzurri shirt after some time, as well as Rolando Mandragora, who was last called up in March 2021. Italy will hold their first training session at Coverciano on Monday 21 September ahead of their debut in the fifth edition of the Nations League on Friday 25 September against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Three days later, the Azzurri will travel to Turkey to face them at the Atatürk Spor Kompleksi in Bursa, before taking on France in Saint-Denis on Friday 2 October. The first international break of the season will conclude with a second home fixture against Turkey, scheduled for Monday 5 October at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in Bologna.