Italy are aiming to finish an unforgettable 2021, which climaxed with the victory at Wembley, by qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Mancini’s side will, this afternoon, start preparations for what Mancini has dubbed “the most important game of the year. On Friday at the Stadio Olimpico, the Azzurri will play in a must-win match at the top of qualifying Group C, the winner of which could qualify directly for the tournament in Qatar – without having to go through the playoffs that were so very costly for Italy last time out.

Although the group will only be decided following next Monday’s match against Northern Ireland in Belfast, beating Switzerland would put the Azzurri in the driving seat, while the two sides are currently level on points going into the game at the Olimpico. The ideal outcome would be a repeat performance of the match in Rome on 16 June, when Italy ran out 3-0 winners against the Swiss thanks to a Locatelli brace and a goal from Ciro Immobile.

 “It’s an important game,” said Mancini in a press conference today, “so we can’t afford to prepare with tension. We know what we’re worth and what we are. We’ll put in a big performance; we need to be calm. It’s usually not easy to play against Switzerland and I won’t be on Friday either. If we play like we did in the reverse fixture, we can win but I think we’ll do even better.”

As well as Verratti, Mancini will need to make do without both Zaniolo and Pellegrini. “They’re not fit, so I think that they’ll return home. We’ll assess Barella’s situation – it doesn’t seem too worry. We’ll replace them both; we’re making our decision now as to who is fit enough to be called up. Barella doesn’t seem too worrying, Chiellini and Bonucci are both fine. We’ll train today and tomorrow we’ll analyse everyone’s physical conditions. With respect for the Final Four of the Nations League, Mancini has both Immobile and Belotti back fit: “We’re happy to have them back. We missed them in October. Ciro is our most prolific striker of the last 6/7 years; if he plays, he’ll do brilliantly.”

A great start to the season means that Tommaso Pobega received his first call-up to the first team and also Sandro Tonali is back in the fold after a year away from the side: “Pobega deserves to be here. He has a lot of quality and he’s been in great form for a while. He’s a physical player, but has a great left foot. He can play in the heart of midfield or in a more attacking role. He’s young and intelligent. Tonali can player deeper or as a ball-carrying midfielder.” With respect to five months ago, the Azzurri will be able to count on a Stadio Olimpico at 75% capacity, ready to spur Italy on to the World Cup (the remaining 2,000 ticket will go on sale tomorrow). “We chose Rome because we knew we’d get the crowd and the atmosphere,” Mancini said. “The pitch is good and has held up well despite there being a rugby match played in the ground.”

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Cagliari), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Genoa);
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Cristiano Biraghi (Fiorentina), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Davide Calabria (Milan), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Emerson Palmieri (Lione), Gianluca Mancini (Roma);
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho (Chelsea), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Tommaso Pobega (Torino), Sandro Tonali (Milan), Nicolò Zaniolo (Roma);
Attackers: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo).

Schedule (all times CET unless stated otherwise)

Sunday 7 November
Meet-up at the Coverciano Federal Technical Centre
Monday 8 November
13:15 – Press conference at Coverciano – Head Coach *(access for journalists and photographers)
15:30 – Training at Coverciano *(open to journalists and photographers for first 15 minutes)
Tuesday 9 November
13:30 – Press conference at Coverciano – Player **(access for journalists)
16:00 – Training at Coverciano **(behind closed doors)
Wednesday 10 November
10:30 – Training at Coverciano **(behind closed doors)
Afternoon transfer from Florence to Roma and visit to Bambino Gesù Children’s hospital
Thursday 11 November
12:00 – Press conference at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, ITALY (access for journalists)
18:30 – Training at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, ITALY (first 15 minutes open to the media)
16:00 – Press conference at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Switzerland (access for journalists)
17:00 – Training at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Switzerland (first 15 minutes open to the media)
Friday 12 November
20:45 – ITALY vs. Switzerland. Post-match press conference and return to hotel to follow
Saturday 13 November
15:00 – Training at the Acqua Acetosa Olympic Training Centre in Rome (behind closed doors)
Sunday 14 November
10:30 – Transfer from Rome to Belfast
11:30 l.t Training, Northern Ireland (first 15 minutes open to the press)
13:00 l.t – Press conference, Northern Ireland ***(access for journalists)
17:30 l.t – Press conference, ITALY ***(access for journalists)
18:00 l.t – Training ITALY ***(first 15 minutes open to the media)
Monday 15 November
19:45 l.t – Northern Ireland vs. ITALY. Followed by post-match press conference and return to respective clubs

*Depending on capacity, journalists and photographers will be granted access to the press conference and the first 15 minutes of the team’s training session on Monday 8 November
**Only journalists will have access to successive press conferences at Coverciano, with the remaining training sessions taking place behind closed doors. TV operators will not be granted access. The FIGC will produce and distribute images relating to press conferences and training sessions to relevant parties upon request. For more info: Massimiliano Reale (FIGC Area Sales): email: m.reale@figcit. Tel: 06/84913023.
***The press conferences in Belfast will be reserved for eight media outlets. A Zoom link will be provided for accredited journalists to follow the conference.