Italy repechage to World Cup: Azzurri totally upset, here are Baldini’s call-ups

Italy totally revolutionized: after the disaster in Zenica, the Azzurri start again in June by facing friendlies against two other national teams not qualified for the World Cup, Luxembourg and Greece, with a completely changed squad. In fact, transitional head coach Silvio Baldini has decided to make a total turnaround, focusing on the emerging talents of Italian soccer, and leaving out all the bigs apart from Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The rumors have been confirmed: 24 players with a very low average age, just over 20 years of age, will report to Coverciano on May 28. The leader will be Gianluigi Donnarumma, the only established player on the roster, with already 81 appearances in the Azzurro. Two other familiar faces are Pisilli, Palestra and Pio Esposito, already summoned by previous coach Rino Gattuso.

The decision to focus on youngsters had been viewed negatively by Greece, which had threatened to cancel the friendly because of too many Under-21s summoned by Baldini. The controversy had then receded after the words of head of delegation Giancarlo Antognoni: “It will be the best possible national team right now for motivation and perspective.”

Keaters: Giovanni Daffara (Avellino), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Lorenzo Palmisani (Frosinone);
Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Atalanta), Davide Bartesaghi (Milan), Fabio Chiarodia (Borussia Monchengladbach), Pietro Comuzzo (Fiorentina), *Costantino Favasuli (Catanzaro), Filippo Mane (Borussia Dortmund), Marco Palestra (Cagliari), Luca Reggiani (Borussia Dortmund);
Midfielders: Matteo Dagasso (Venezia), Giacomo Faticanti (Juventus), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Cher Ndour (Fiorentina), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Lorenzo Venturino (Roma);
Strikers: Francesco Camarda (Lecce), Luigi Cherubini (Sampdoria), Jeff Ekhator (Genoa), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Seydou Fini (Frosinone), Samuele Inacio (Borussia Dortmund), Luca Koleosho (Paris FC)

In the background, meanwhile, the chapter of possible repechage to the World Cup remains open. The hypothesis stems from the uncertain participation of Iran, which is grappling with a delicate geopolitical situation, and keeps the hopes of a part of the Italian soccer world burning. Team Melli recently announced the shift of its World Cup base from the United States to Mexico, adding uncertainty to the situation.