Italy Selects Liverpool’s Chiesa for Vital World Cup Playoffs
Federico Chiesa has been recalled to Italy’s squad for the upcoming World Cup playoff matches. Coach Gennaro Gattuso announced a 28-man roster on Friday.
Italy must beat Northern Ireland in Bergamo on Thursday. They then face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away five days later.
They need two wins to avoid missing a third straight World Cup. Italy have failed to qualify through playoffs before.
Italy has included Liverpool’s Chiesa for these vital World Cup playoff ties. Chiesa made his 51st and most recent international appearance at Euro 2024.
His last match for Italy was the round-of-16 defeat by Switzerland. He was part of the squad that won Euro 2021.
Chiesa left Juventus for Liverpool in August 2024. He has struggled for playing time there, with just one Premier League start this season.
He began his career at Fiorentina. Supporters at Liverpool have taken to him for his energy and passion on the pitch.
Cagliari defender Marco Palestra earned his first Italy call-up. Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini and Roma’s Niccolò Pisilli return after nearly two years.
Italy were eliminated in playoffs by Sweden before 2018. They were also knocked out by North Macedonia in 2022.
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)
Filmogaz.com will monitor developments as Italy prepare for the playoff fixtures. Updates will follow after squad training and match confirmations.
