Gattuso Names Italy Squad for World Cup Qualifiers, Excludes Chiesa

Italy’s national football manager, Gennaro Gattuso, has made notable changes to his squad ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Israel. On Friday, Gattuso recalled midfielder Bryan Cristante to the team, while forward Federico Chiesa remains omitted from the lineup.

Cristante, who plays for AS Roma, has previously earned 43 caps for Italy, but he has not participated in the current qualifying campaign since his last appearance at Euro 2024. His inclusion this time reflects Gattuso’s intent to strengthen the midfield as Italy aims to secure a spot in the upcoming World Cup.

Chiesa, who plays for Liverpool, has been a key player for the national team but has faced challenges this season. Despite scoring twice in the Premier League, his limited playing time has led to his exclusion from the squad. His last cap also came during the Euro 2024 tournament.

In addition to Cristante, Gattuso has brought in uncapped Fiorentina midfielder Hans Nicolussi Caviglia and Bologna forward Nicolo Cambiaghi. Defender Matteo Gabbia from AC Milan returns to the squad, having previously been part of the team but yet to make an appearance on the pitch.

Since Gattuso’s appointment, Italy has shown impressive form, securing a decisive 5-0 victory over Estonia last month followed by a thrilling 5-4 win against Israel. The Italian side is under pressure to perform as they aim to qualify for the World Cup after missing the last two tournaments.

Italy currently sits in second place in Group I, trailing Norway, which tops the group with 15 points, six points ahead of Italy. The Italians have a game in hand, while Israel, level on 9 points with Italy, has played one more match. Group winners qualify automatically, while runners-up will enter the playoffs.

The upcoming matches are crucial for Italy’s ambitions, with the first game against Estonia scheduled for October 11, followed by a home match against Israel in Udine on October 14.

The full squad for the qualifiers includes:

Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham Hotspur)
Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Diego Coppola (Brighton & Hove Albion), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan), Matteo Gabbia (AC Milan), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Bryan Cristante (AS Roma), Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Hans Nicolussi Caviglia (Fiorentina), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United)
Forwards: Nicolo Cambiaghi (Bologna), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter Milan), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Atletico Madrid), Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio).

With the stakes high, Italy will look to capitalize on their recent form and secure their place in the World Cup.