Italy, Luciano Spalletti summons 23: Tonali returns, two absolute novelties

Luciano Spalletti’s summoned

Putting behind them the disappointment of Euro 2024, with their elimination in the round of 16 at the hands of Switzerland, Luciano Spalletti's Italy is getting a makeover ahead of its first two Nations League engagements, scheduled for Friday, Sept. 6 at the Parc des Princes in Paris against France and Monday, Sept. 9 at the neutral venue of the Boszik Arena in Budapest, Hungary, against Israel.

There are 23 players summoned by the Azzurri coach, many of whom were part of this summer’s expedition to Germany. On the other hand, Sandro Tonali is back after serving his disqualification, while there are two absolute new faces, Caleb Okoli of Leicester City and Marco Brescianini of Atalanta.

Also returning from Euro 2024 are Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie and Torino’s Samuele Ricci, the latter one of the last cuts before leaving for Germany. In attack, Moise Kean, who starred with two goals in as many games against Puskas Akademia in Fiorentina’s qualification to the main stage of the Conference League, also returns to the squad.

The 23 call-ups for France-Italy and Israel-Italy

Keepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), 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), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Caleb Okoli (Leicester), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham);
Central midfielders: Marco Brescianini (Atalanta), Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Samuele Ricci (Torino), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle);
Forwards: Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Atalanta), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio).