Luciano Spalletti is revamping Italy's squad ahead of the friendlies against Venezuela and Ecuador and this summer's European Championships. The coach has announced the call-ups of the 28 players who will attend a training camp in Rome starting Monday before departing for the United States.
Three new faces will make their debut for the Azzurri: Raoul Bellanova (Torino), Michael Folorunsho (Verona) and Lorenzo Lucca (Udinese).
Once again excluded is Ciro Immobile, Lazio striker, who is paying for the difficult moment of his team and the competition in the offensive department.
Spalletti, in fact, is facing several difficulties in attack, especially given the injury to Domenico Berardi. In addition to the newly called-up Lucca, his alternatives are: Mateo Retegui (Monza), Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo), and Nicolò Zaniolo (Roma).
However, Zaniolo and Raspadori are not regular starters for their clubs, and they feared losing their ticket to the European Championships.
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In goal, Carnesecchi, Donnarumma, Meret and Vicario are confirmed. In defense, there are Acerbi, Bastoni, Bellanova, Buongiorno, Cambiaso, Darmian, Di Lorenzo, Dimarco, Scalvini, Udogie. In midfield, Barella, Bonaventura, Folorunsho, Frattesi, Jorginho, Locatelli and Pellegrini.
The friendlies against Venezuela and Ecuador will be an opportunity to test the entire squad. The Azzurri will gather in Rome on Sunday evening and will have their first training session on Monday. They are scheduled to leave for Miami on Tuesday morning.
The first match will be on Thursday, March 21st in Fort Lauderdale against Venezuela, while on Sunday, March 24th the match will move to the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, against Ecuador.
The tour of the United States brings to mind the 94 World Cup in the USA, when Arrigo Sacchi's Italy lost to Brazil in the final. In 2005, Marcello Lippi used two friendlies to test some of the players who would go on to win the 2006 World Cup.
Spalletti hopes to find the right formula for the European Championship, which Italy aims to win after their success in 2021. The three new faces will have the opportunity to prove their worth and earn a place in the continental expedition.
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