Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo have returned to Italy’s squad for their next World Cup qualifiers, while Torino midfielder Tommaso Pobega has earned a first call-up.
Roberto Mancini’s men face Switzerland at Stadio Olimpico next Friday in a likely shootout for top spot in Group C, with the sides level on 14 points.
The Azzurri then round off their Qatar 2022 group qualifying campaign with a match in Northern Ireland three days later.
Milan midfielder Tonali is part of Mancini’s 28-man squad for the double-header, a year on from the most recent of his four senior caps, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti out injured.
Zaniolo is back involved after a shorter absence from the team, meanwhile, the Roma attacker having missed out on the squad for October’s Nations League Finals games.
I 28 #Azzurri convocati dal Ct #Mancini per le gare di qualificazione al #Mondiale contro #Svizzera e #IrlandaDelNord
La notizia https://t.co/ch2lwSJpJu#WCQ #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/Y9ma5S2UXY
— Nazionale Italiana(@Azzurri) November 5, 2021
Pobega is the only new face in the Italy contingent after impressing for Torino, where he is on a season-long loan from Milan.
The 22-year-old, yet to make a senior appearance for the Rossoneri, has two goals and an assist in nine Serie A outings this term.
Elsewhere, Andrea Belotti and Ciro Immobile are back from injury, but this final international window of the year has come too soon for Moise Kean to return.
Italy are back in qualifying action after their hopes of Nations League success were ended with a 2-1 loss to Spain in last month’s semi-finals.
That ended the European champions’ world-record run of 37 games unbeaten, but they bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Belgium to clinch third place.
Italy squad: Cragno (Cagliari), Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Meret (Napoli), Sirigu (Genoa); Acerbi (Lazio), Bastoni (Inter), Biraghi (Fiorentina), Bonucci (Juventus), Calabria (Milan), Chiellini (Juventus), Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Palmieri (Lyon), Mancini (Roma); Barella (Inter), Cristante (Roma), Jorginho (Chelsea), Locatelli (Juventus), Pellegrini (Roma), Pobega (Torino), Tonali (Milan), Zaniolo (Roma); Belotti (Torino), Berardi (Sassuolo), Bernardeschi (Juventus), Chiesa (Juventus), Immobile (Lazio), Insigne (Napoli), Raspadori (Sassuolo).
