Gennaro Gattuso has announced a 28-player Italy squad for the World Cup playoff semifinal against Northern Ireland, scheduled for Thursday 26 March at 20:45 at the Bergamo stadium. The list mixes familiar faces with a genuine surprise name and a high-profile return.
What stands out
The headline surprise is Marco Palestra, a 2005-born defender from Cagliari who receives his first call-up to the senior national team. The return many wanted is Federico Chiesa, back in the Azzurri after missing out since Euro 2024. The spine of the squad remains an Inter-flavored trio: Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolò Barella and Federico Dimarco.
Other details
Two players, Giorgio Scalvini and Niccolò Pisilli, receive their first call under Gattuso. According to the announcement, they had been absent from the national setup since March and November 2024 respectively.
Full squad
Goalkeepers
- Elia Caprile (Cagliari)
- Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta)
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City)
- Alex Meret (Napoli)
Defenders
- Alessandro Bastoni (Inter)
- Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli)
- Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal)
- Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus)
- Diego Coppola (Paris FC)
- Federico Dimarco (Inter)
- Federico Gatti (Juventus)
- Gianluca Mancini (Roma)
- Marco Palestra (Cagliari)
- Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta)
- Leonardo Spinazzola (Napoli)
Midfielders
- Nicolò Barella (Inter)
- Bryan Cristante (Roma)
- Davide Frattesi (Inter)
- Manuel Locatelli (Juventus)
- Niccolò Pisilli (Roma)
- Sandro Tonali (Newcastle)
Forwards
- Federico Chiesa (Liverpool)
- Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter)
- Moise Kean (Fiorentina)
- Matteo Politano (Napoli)
- Giacomo Raspadori (Atalanta)
- Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah)
- Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta)
Short and clear. Gattuso has blended youth and experience and left the door open for a few fresh options ahead of the high-stakes match in Bergamo.
