MIDFIELD PAIR MARCO Verratti and Stefano Sensi were both included in Italy’s squad for Euro 2020 named late last night despite recent injuries.
Coach Roberto Mancini unveiled his 26-man squad at the midnight 1 June deadline set by Uefa ahead of the tournament, which kicks off on 11 June.
There was also a surprise inclusion of Sassuolo forward Giacomo Raspadori, 21, who has not yet played for the senior national side. Raspadori became available after Italy were eliminated from the European U21 Championship. The centre-forward could provide an attacking option alongside Ciro Immobile and Andrea Belotti.
Verratti suffered knee ligament damage last month, with his club, Paris Saint-Germain, estimating that six weeks of recovery could be needed, which would rule the 28-year-old out of the group matches. Sensi suffered a thigh muscle problem on the final day of the season playing for Serie A champions Inter Milan.
Veteran Juventus defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci are also included, with Atalanta’s Rafael Toloi preferred to Roma’s Gianluca Mancini. Atalanta midfielder Matteo Pessina and Napoli winger Matteo Politano were both left out.
After failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the Azzurri are looking for redemption in a tournament they won in 1968.
They kick off on 11 June against Turkey in Group A in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, where they will also play Switzerland and Wales.
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan), Alex Meret (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Torino)
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Emerson Palmieri (Chelsea), Alessandro Florenzi (Paris Saint-Germain), Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma), Rafael Toloi (Atalanta)
Midfielders: Nicolo Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho (Chelsea), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Stefano Sensi (Inter), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo)
Free Palestine
@Ailbhe: Free Plasticine.
Willie smallbone number 10.
I hope you score tonight and score plenty in the future.
Good luck lads COYBIG
Since when is Israel in Europe?
Is it due to the fact that most Israelis are of European origin?
@Shedonny: Asian countries refused to play them. They were in Oceania for a while!
@Sam Kendlin Hobbs: UEFA should have refused to admit them also
Cmon lads
That’s a good line up. Hard to see anything other than a positive result tonight
@Gearóid MacEachaidh: bahahahahah useless just all the hyped up championship players in ireland
@Tomas Lyons: grow up, muppet
Ferguson has had a woeful first half hour. He’s a lot better than he’s showing.
@Gearóid MacEachaidh: Good man Ferguson. Does nothing right for an hour then gets a goal. Come on lads!
@Gearóid MacEachaidh: I was thinking same. He was poor and rightfully hooked but took the goal very well.
Just an off day but he has quality.
Connolly Man of the Match.
Kenny Cunningham is meant to be a teetotaller….obviously not
Shalom to Ireland but you lose tonight
@Richarddoherty: they didn’t lose. might be nice to show some support to Ireland
Brilliant Evan.
Get in
Should have been a penalty
Israel 2 1
@jimmy fitz: thats the sport.
@Pauly Kel: it’s just a prediction Paul, don’t take it to heart