Roberto Mancini included uncapped Sassuolo forward Giacomo Raspadori in the 26-member final squad for the rescheduled Euro 2020 starting on June 11.
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Italy head coach Roberto Mancini included uncapped forward Giacomo Raspadori in the final 26-member squad for the rescheduled Euro 2020 starting on June 11. The 21-year-old Sassuolo player was initially not part of the 28-member squad but was recalled after Italy crashed out of the U-21 European Championship. The Italy squad for the European Championship was announced during a televised show. Gianluca Mancini, Matteo Pessina and Mateo Politano were omitted from the final squad.
Raspadori had a breakthrough season with Sassuolo, scoring six goals in 27 Serie A appearances. Although he received his first senior national call up ahead of the friendly against San Marino but didn’t feature in the 7-0 victory on Friday. Meanwhile, he will be fighting with Lazio’s Ciro Immobile and Torino’s Andrea Belotti for a place in the playing eleven.
Mancini cut his preliminary group of 33-players down to 28 on Sunday and PSG striker Moise Kean was the high profile casualty. Brazil-born Atalanta defender Rafael Toloi was picked ahead of AS Roma defender Gianluca Mancini. Whereas Inter Milan midfielder Stefano Sensi, who picked up an injury in the final game of the season was preferred ahead of Atalanta’s Matteo Pessina.
Mancini has successfully transformed Italy since taking over after the Azzurri’s failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup
“It’s always difficult to get to the list of 26, because you have to leave at home players who have nevertheless been protagonists,” said Mancini.
Italy are on a 26-match unbeaten run at this point and are favourites going into the tournament.
“Our team has been reborn after the disappointment of the last World Cup and we have done well in building a good path.”
Italy is in Group A with Turkey, Switzerland and Wales for the Euro 2020. The opening game of the tournament will see Italy host Turkey at Rome on June 11.
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan), Alex Meret (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Torino)
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Emerson (Chelsea), Alessandro Florenzi (Paris Saint-Germain), Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma), Rafael Toloi (Atalanta)
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter Milan), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho (Chelsea), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Stefano Sensi (Inter Milan), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo)
