Luciano Spalletti has made key adjustments to Italy's squad ahead of their crucial Nations League matches against Belgium and France. Italy currently tops Group A2 by just one point after four games, and a win over Belgium next week would secure their place in the quarter-finals. To strengthen the team, Spalletti has recalled Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella, who was absent from October's fixtures due to nose surgery.
Barella’s return is a significant boost for Italy, as his presence in midfield is expected to add much-needed strength and experience. The midfielder has been impressive for Inter this season, with only Alessandro Bastoni, Matteo Darmian, and Marcus Thuram registering more successful duels than him. His return is expected to play a crucial role in Italy’s push for a victory over Belgium, as the team aims to maintain their position at the top of the group.
However, Italy will be missing several key players for these upcoming matches. Defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Matteo Gabbia are unavailable due to injuries. Calafiori sustained a knee injury during Arsenal’s Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, while Gabbia continues to recover. Additionally, Roma’s captain Lorenzo Pellegrini and Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli are also absent from the squad.
In a bid to inject fresh talent into the squad, Spalletti has called up three new faces: Fiorentina’s Pietro Comuzzo, Juventus’ Nicolo Savona, and Lazio’s Nicolo Rovella. All three players are set to make their first appearances in the national team, adding a new dynamic to Italy’s lineup as they prepare for these important fixtures.
The full squad also includes goalkeepers Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham), and Alex Meret (Napoli). The defensive lineup features Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Pietro Comuzzo (Fiorentina), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Caleb Okoli (Leicester City), Nicolo Savona (Juventus), and Destiny Udogie (Tottenham).
As Italy prepares for these crucial Nations League matches, the combination of experienced players like Barella and new call-ups like Comuzzo, Savona, and Rovella gives Spalletti a strong squad to challenge Belgium and France for a spot in the next stage. With a lot at stake, Italy will be focused on securing the points needed to move forward in the competition.
