Squad announcement for the Nations League: first-time for Di Gregorio, Gabbia, Pisilli, and Maldini
Four new faces join the Azzurri squad as they aim to secure a spot in the quarter-finals in the matches scheduled for 10 and 14 October in Rome and Udine. After 22 years, a Maldini returns to the national teamFriday, October 4, 2024
After away victories against World Cup runners-up France and Israel, Italy resumes their Nations League journey with their first two home matches of the season. On Thursday, 10 October (20:45 CEST, live on Rai 1), they will face Belgium at Rome's Stadio Olimpico, while on Monday, 14 October (20:45 CEST, live on Rai 1), the Stadio Friuli in Udine will host their second clash with Israel. The goal is to stay top of the table and secure a quarter-final spot with two more wins.
Head coach Luciano Spalletti has called up 23 players, including four making their first appearance for the national team: Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, Milan defender Matteo Gabbia, Roma midfielder Niccolò Pisilli, and Monza forward Daniel Maldini. Over 22 years after his father Paolo’s last appearance (June 18, 2002) and 61 years after his grandfather Cesare, a Maldini is once again set to wear the Azzurri shirt.
The national team will gather on Sunday at Coverciano and travel to Rome on the afternoon of Wednesday, 9 October before returning to the Federal Technical Centre on Thursday night. On Sunday, they will head to Udine, on the eve of the match against Israel. For Spalletti, it’s a reverse journey from 2005, when he moved from Udinese to Roma, two pivotal experiences in his managerial career.
THE SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Michele Di Gregorio (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham);
Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Raoul Bellanova (Atalanta), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Matteo Gabbia (Milan), Caleb Okoli (Leicester), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham);
Midfielders: Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Samuele Ricci (Torino), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle);
Forwards: Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Daniel Maldini (Monza), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Atalanta).
PREVIOUS MEETINGS WITH BELGIUM AND ISRAEL
On Thursday, 10 October Italy will face Belgium for the 25th time. The Azzurri's record stands at 16 wins, 4 draws, and 4 losses. Rome remains the city that has hosted the most national team matches, with this clash marking the 65th. For the Red Devils, it will be their third time in the capital, where Italy has an unbeaten run of 7 games, consisting of 6 wins and 1 draw between 2015 and 2023. The last defeat in Rome was in August 2013, a 2-1 loss to Argentina in a friendly.
A month after their victory on neutral ground in Budapest, Italy will meet Israel again in Udine for the seventh time, with 5 wins and 1 draw in their previous encounters. The Azzurri are unbeaten at the Friuli, having won 7 and drawn 2 of the 9 matches played there so far.
THE NEW FORMAT OF THE NATIONS LEAGUE
Unlike the previous edition, where the top-ranked team qualified directly for the Final Four, this time the top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage. In March 2025, they will play the quarter-finals (home and away). The winners of these matches will secure their place in the Finals, set to take place in June 2025 at the venue of one of the four finalists. The team finishing fourth in the group will be relegated to League B, while, in another new twist, the third-placed team will enter a play-off to avoid relegation against one of the second-placed teams from League B. The finalists will also earn a spot in the play-offs for the 2026 World Cup.
Groups of League A in the UEFA Nations League 2024/25
Group 1: Croatia, Portugal, Poland, Scotland
Group 2: Italy, Belgium, France, Israel
Group 3: Netherlands, Hungary, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group 4: Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Serbia
Results and Standings for Group 2 of League A in the Nations League
Matchday 1 (6 September)
Belgium 3 - 1 Israel
France 1 - 3 Italy
Matchday 2 (9 September)
Israel 1 - 2 Italy
France 2 - 0 Belgium
Standings:
- Italy: 6 points
- France: 3 points
- Belgium: 3 points
- Israel: 0 points
The top two teams will qualify for the quarter-finals. The third-placed team will enter a play-off to avoid relegation against one of the second-placed teams from League B, while the fourth-placed team will be relegated to League B.
Upcoming Matches for Italy
- 10 October 2024: Italy vs. Belgium (20:45 CEST– Stadio Olimpico, Rome)
- 14 October 2024: Italy vs. Israel (20:45 CEST – Stadio Friuli, Udine)
- 14 November 2024: Belgium vs. Italy (20:45 CET – King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels)
- 17 November 2024: Italy vs. France (20:45 CET – Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan)
