Italy: Mario Balotelli Makes Azzurri Comeback Under Antonio Conte
At long last, Mario Balotelli has been recalled to the Italian national team. Head coach Antonio Conte has named the Liverpool striker among the 26-man squad for Italy’s upcoming matches: a crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against Croatia and a friendly against Albania on November 16 and 18 respectively.
Balotelli’s inclusion marks a notable turnaround, as Conte had previously omitted him from his earlier selections since taking over. Joining him in making a comeback is Stephan El Shaarawy, who has also been out of the national setup.
Notable absentees include:
Andrea Pirlo, sidelined due to injury
Leonardo Bonucci, suspended
Among the call-ups are PSG duo Salvatore Sirigu and Marco Verratti, as well as several younger or in-form players from Serie A and abroad.
Full Italy Squad:
Goalkeepers:
Buffon, Sirigu, Perin
Defenders:
Chiellini, Moretti, Ogbonna, Ranocchia, Rugani, Darmian, De Sciglio, Pasqual
Midfielders:
Bertolacci, Bonaventura, Candreva, Cerci, De Rossi, El Shaarawy, Marchisio, Parolo, Soriano, Verratti
Forwards:
Balotelli, Giovinco, Immobile, Pellé, Zaza
With Balotelli back in the fold, all eyes will be on whether the enigmatic forward can deliver for the Squadra Azzurra in their push toward Euro 2016.
