Through their official website, the Italian Football Federation have announced the Azzurrini roster for the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup.
The Italians are in Group D of the World Cup and will be facing the Flying Eagles at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza on May 24, sandwiched in between games against Brazil and Dominican Republic.
Italy U20 manager Carmine Nunziata has selected three goalkeepers, seven defenders, seven midfielders and four strikers in his squad list for the tournament in Argentina.
Some of the eye-catching names on the roster include Chelsea-owned midfielder Cesare Casadei, who was loaned out to Reading in the January transfer window, and Udinese wonderkid Simone Pafundi, who has totaled eight appearances in the Serie A at the age of 17.
Inter Milan defenders Alessandro Fontanarosa and Mattia Zanotti, and Juventus starlet Riccardo Turicchia are part of the 21-man group heading to Argentina.
Italy boss Nunziata has admitted that he’s worried about facing the Flying Eagles, saying that they are a very physical team and finished third at the 2023 Africa U20 Cup of Nations.
Italy’s 21-man World Cup squad
Goalkeepers : Sebastiano Desplanches (Trento); Jacopo Sassi (Giugliano Calcio), Gioele Zacchi (Sassuolo);
Defenders : Filippo Fiumanò (Aquila Montevarchi); Alessandro Fontanarosa (Inter), Daniele Ghilardi (Mantova), Samuel Giovane (Ascoli), Gabriele Guarino (Empoli), Riccardo Turicchia (Juventus), Mattia Zanotti (Inter);
Midfielders : Tommaso Baldanzi (Empoli), Cesare Casadei (Reading FC), Duccio Degli Innocenti (Empoli), Giacomo Faticanti (Roma), Luca Lipani (Genoa), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Matteo Prati (Spal);
Forwards : Giuseppe Ambrosino Di Bruttopilo (Cittadella), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Daniele Montevago (Sampdoria), Simone Pafundi (Udinese).
Credit:Ifeanyi Emmanuel
