The returning coach, Roberto Mancini, has cast a wide net ahead of a demanding run of four Nations League fixtures in eleven days.
Roberto Mancini has pre-selected a pool of more than 70 players as he prepares for his first matches back in charge of the Italian national team, with a final squad list confirmed on Friday 18 September.
Mancini, who led Italy to Euro 2020 glory before departing for Saudi Arabia in 2023, returns to a side rebuilding after missing out on the 2026 World Cup. His side face a tight run of fixtures: Belgium at the Olimpico on 25 September, Turkey away in Ankara, France in Paris, and Turkey again in Bologna, all within eleven days, as part of the Nations League campaign feeding into qualification positioning for Euro 2028.
A blend of old and new
Among those the coach is expected to lean on are Roma’s Bryan Cristante, in strong form under Gian Piero Gasperini, along with a possible recall for Giovanni Di Lorenzo. Younger prospects, including Simone Doumbia and Cher Ndour-linked names emerging from this year’s Under-21 pool, are also under consideration.
However, Mancini must coordinate call-ups with Under-21 coach Silvio Baldini, whose own side face a play-off against Poland for a place at the Olympics.
Italy’s men’s team has failed to make it to the last three World Cup finals. They last time they played, in 2014, they were eliminated at the group stage.
