Italy: Squad for Spain and Israel

By Football Italia staff

Italy named their squad to face Spain and Israel in next week’s World Cup qualifiers, including Lorenzo Pellegrini and Stephan El Shaarawy.

They visit the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid for a top of the table showdown with Spain on September 2, then host Israel at Sassuolo’s Mapei Stadium on September 5.

Coach Giampiero Ventura again ignores Napoli midfielder Jorginho, but Riccardo Montolivo is surprisingly picked ahead of Inter starlet Roberto Gagliardini.

Leonardo Spinazzola gets the nod ahead of Mattia De Sciglio for left-back, despite refusing to play for Atalanta so far this season in a contract dispute, as he tries to force through a transfer to Juventus.

There were reports Federico Di Francesco would get his first chance after impressive performances for Bologna, but instead El Shaarawy returns.

In attack, Southampton forward Gabbiadini is expected to edge out Atalanta’s Andrea Petagna.

Probable Italy squad

GK: Buffon (Juventus), Donnarumma (Milan), Perin (Genoa)

D: Conti (Milan), D’Ambrosio (Inter), Darmian (Man Utd), Spinazzola (Atalanta), Bonucci (Milan), Chiellini (Juventus), Barzagli (Juventus), Rugani (Juventus), Astori (Fiorentina)

M: De Rossi (Roma), Montolivo (Milan), Verratti (PSG), Parolo (Lazio), Pellegrini (Roma), Candreva (Inter), Insigne (Napoli), El Shaarawy (Roma), Bernardeschi (Juventus)

A: Belotti (Torino), Immobile (Lazio), Eder (Inter), Gabbiadini (Southampton)

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