Immobile, Locatelli, Verratti Omitted From Italy's New-Look Euro 2024 Squad
Ciro Immobile, Manuel Locatelli, and Marco Verratti are notable absentees from Italy's provisional squad for Euro 2024. Only ten players from the team that won Euro 2020 have been included in Luciano Spalletti's 30-man group. This squad will be reduced to 26 after friendlies against Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina in early June.
Immobile, who was part of Spalletti's first Italy squad last September, has been left out after scoring just seven Serie A goals this season. Verratti, who started in Italy's Euro 2020 final victory over England, was unlikely to be included this year after moving from Paris Saint-Germain to Qatari side Al-Arabi. Last September, Verratti reportedly declined a call-up for Italy's first two Euro 2024 qualifiers to complete his move to Qatar.
Locatelli is also excluded, having seen his international role diminish since the last Euros. However, Juventus team-mate Nicolo Fagioli is included after serving a seven-month ban for breaching Italian gambling rules.
Luciano Spalletti has named the following players in his provisional 30-man squad:
| Goalkeepers | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain) | Francesco Acerbi (Inter) | Nicolo Barella (Inter) | Federico Chiesa (Juventus) |
| Alex Meret (Napoli) | Alessandro Bastoni (Inter) | Bryan Cristante (Roma) | Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma) |
| Ivan Provedel (Lazio) | Raoul Bellanova (Torino) | Nicolo Fagioli (Juventus) | Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna) |
| Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham) | Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino) | Michael Folorunsho (Verona) | Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli) |
| Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna) | Davide Frattesi (Inter) | Mateo Retegui (Genoa) | |
| Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus) | Jorginho (Arsenal) | Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta) | |
| Matteo Darmian (Inter) | Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma) | Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio) | |
| Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli) | Samuele Ricci (Torino) | ||
| Federico Dimarco (Inter) | The Azzurri will start their Euro 2024 campaign against Albania on June 15. They will then face Spain and Croatia in their remaining Group B fixtures. Italy aims to replicate Spain's achievement of winning consecutive Euros in 2008 and 2012, a feat no other team has managed. The upcoming friendlies against Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina will be crucial for Spalletti to finalise his squad. The trimmed list of players will be announced shortly after these matches. This selection marks a significant shift from the team that triumphed at Euro 2020, reflecting changes in form and fitness among key players. Fans eagerly await the final squad announcement as Italy prepares for another challenging tournament. The exclusion of seasoned players like Immobile, Verratti, and Locatelli highlights the evolving dynamics within the Italian national team. Newer talents are stepping up, aiming to make their mark on the international stage. The Italian squad's performance in the upcoming friendlies will provide insights into their readiness for Euro 2024. With a mix of experienced players and fresh faces, Spalletti's team is set to face tough competition in Group B. The journey to Germany begins soon, with Italy looking to build on their past successes while navigating the challenges ahead. The final squad selection will be a critical step in shaping their campaign strategy. The football world watches closely as Italy gears up for another European Championship, hoping to add another chapter to their storied history in international football. Story first published: Thursday, May 23, 2024, 18:57 [GST]  Log in for unlimited reading! Manage Profile First Name Last Name Email Address Age Select Age
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