FILE - Italy's new national soccer team coach Roberto Mancini pose during a news conference, July 29, 2026, in Rome. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP, File)
September 18, 2026 - 10:47 AM
ROME (AP) — Roberto Mancini called up 34 players on Friday to his first Italy squad since returning as coach, ahead of four Nations League games.
Mancini has been tasked with revitalising a team in crisis and his squad includes a mix of experienced players who he led to the European Championship title in 2021, and potential debutants.
Eight players are uncapped, Mohamed Ali Zoma, Antonio Vergara, Alessandro Romano, Issa Doumbia, Michael Kayode, Massimo Pessina, Samuele Inácio and Sebastiano Esposito.
The only squad limit in the league phase is that teams must submit a list of 23 before midnight ahead of each game, but they can change players between matches.
Italy starts at home to Belgium on Sept. 25 before playing Turkey three days later, France on Oct. 2 and Turkey again on Oct. 5.
Italy is in crisis after failing for a third straight time to qualify for the World Cup, prompting the resignations of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and coach Gennaro Gattuso in April, shortly after the playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Mancini was rehired as coach, three years after he abandoned the same job for a lucrative contract with Saudi Arabia.
The new faces
The 22-year-old Ali Zoma had a breakthrough campaign in Germany, scoring 15 goals in 31 games for FC Nürnberg, and has kept up that form this season with five goals in as many matches.
Alessandro Romano, a Cagliari midfielder who switched his international allegiance from Switzerland to Italy last week, is also in the mix.
Bologna’s 18-year-old goalkeeper, Massimo Pessina, has featured in only five Serie A matches but delivered an impressive performance last weekend against Napoli. He filled in for first-choice Lukasz Skorupski, who was dropped for showing up late to a training session.
Sporting Lisbon acquired 22-year-old midfielder Doumbia from Venezia during the offseason for around 23 million euros ($26.4 million), inserting a release clause of 80 million euros ($91.8 million) into his contract.
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