Mancini names 30-man squad as Euro holders Italy face England, Malta

Roberto Mancini has selected a 30-man squad as Italy start their quest to defend their European title in the Euro 2024 qualifications against England and Malta.

Italy, winners of the Euro 2021 edition after beating England in a thrilling final, host England on March 23 at Napoli’s Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Three days later, they will rub shoulders with Michele Marcolini’s Malta at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali.

A number of players forming part of the European winning squad have been named including goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, defender Leonardo Bonucci, midfielder Nicolo Barella and forward Federico Chiesa.

For this double-header, Mancini handed call-ups to newcomers Wladimiro Falcone, Alessandro Buongiorno and Argentina-based Mateo Retegui.

Italy’s squad will meet on Sunday at Coverciano before travelling to Napoli on Wednesday, a day before their England matchup.

SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Wladimiro Falcone (Lecce), Alex Meret (Napoli), Ivan Provedel (Lazio).

DEFENDERS
Francesco Acerbi (Inter), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino), Matteo Darmian (Inter), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Alessio Romagnoli (Lazio), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma), Rafael Toloi (Atalanta).

MIDFIELDERS
Nicolo Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Davide Frattesi (Sassuolo), Jorginho (Arsenal, England), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Matteo Pessina (Monza), Sandro Tonali (Milan), Marco Verrati (Paris Saint-Germain, France).

FORWARDS
Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds United, England), Vincenzo Grifo (Freiburg, Germany), Simone Pafundi (Udinese), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Club Atletico Tigre, Argentina), Gianluca Scamacca (West Ham United, England).