European ball
Italy coach Roberto Mancini has included three players who have not previously featured in any international matches in his 30-man squad as the 2020 European champions look to start their 2024 qualifying campaign once morest England and Malta later this month.
Lecce goalkeeper Vladimiro Falcone, Torino defender Alessandro Bongiorno and Atletico Tigre striker Matteo Retigi were named to the squad for the first time, bringing the total number of players Mancini has called up to the Italy national team to 102 since starting in charge.
Mancini said, “We have been following Retigi for a while. He has been playing regularly in the Argentine league for two seasons. He has the characteristics that we lack now.”
But Mancini faces a headache when it comes to selecting strikers, with Ciro Immobile out through injury, while Napoli’s Giacomo Raspadori and West Ham United’s Gianluca Schamacca lack the sensitivity to play due to a lack of participation.
“Rasbadori is an important player for us, but he doesn’t play much. Scamaka is back from injury and he doesn’t play much either. The two can only improve if they participate,” Mancini said.
Skamaca was included in the squad, while Raspadori was left out.
Italy will host England in Naples next Thursday and travel to Malta on March 26.
