The 23-man Italy squad to participate in the European Under-21 Championship has been announced, including Cesare Casadei and Diego Coppola, but Francesco Pio Esposito is out injured.
The tournament runs from June 11 to 28 in Slovakia.
The Azzurrini are in Group A and will open against Romania on June 11, then face hosts Slovakia on June 14 before the final game of this phase with Spain on June 17.
The top two from each group go into the quarter-finals, which are played on June 21 and 22.
Italy begin U21 Euros adventure
Coach Carmine Nunziata had called up Spezia striker Francesco Pio Esposito, but he has been ruled out of the competition due to an injury.
Pisa defender Giovanni Bonfanti and Sassuolo midfielder Cristian Volpato were also cut from the long list.
Torino midfielder Casadei and Verona defender Diego Coppola are currently with the senior squad for the World Cup qualifiers with Norway and Moldova, but will join the U21 side after June 10.
Italy squad for U21 European Championship
Goalkeepers: 1 Sebastiano Desplanches (Palermo), 22 Jacopo Sassi (Crotone), 12 Gioele Zacchi (Latina);
Defenders: 15 Diego Coppola (Hellas Verona), 6 Daniele Ghilardi (Hellas Verona), 19 Gabriele Guarino (Carrarese), 13 Michael Kayode (Brentford), 5 Lorenzo Pirola (Olympiacos), 3 Matteo Ruggeri (Atalanta), 16 Riccardo Turicchia (Juventus), 2 Mattia Zanotti (Lugano);
Midfielders: 23 Alessandro Bianco (Monza), 8 Cesare Casadei (Torino), 18 Issa Doumbia (Venezia), 14 Giovanni Fabbian (Bologna), 21 Jacopo Fazzini (Empoli), 7 Cher Ndour (Fiorentina), 20 Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), 4 Matteo Prati (Cagliari);
Forwards: 9 Giuseppe Ambrosino (Frosinone), 11 Tommaso Baldanzi (Roma), 10 Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds United), 17 Luca Koleosho (Burnley).
That forward line is further indication as to Italy not going anywhere any time 5oon.
Ambro5ino is 21 and has a pitiful goal5coring record. Baldanzi is Empoli level, Gnonto is a fut5al player and the other one 5cored 2 goals in the English 5erie B 🤦🏻♂️
Strong team but I don’t see a striker who can score the goals. Esposito’s absence will hurt this team. Why not call up Camarda?
Seem to remember Italy winning a tournament in 2021 with a forward line that didn’t excel by any means. You don’t need an amazing, dynamic group of forwards to win a tournament.
BONUCCI THE BOSS
A top natural goal5corer at International level is worth hi5 weight in gold. We did win and it was an amazing team effort. But v5 Spain, it went to pen5 and the 5ame v5 England de5pite dominating throughout but never having an end product. A top centre forward impact5 the mentality of oppo5ition a5 well.
Where are Pafundi & Camarda?