Stefano Okaka, Alessio Cerci and Emanuele Giaccherini are in Italy’s squad for friendlies against Belgium and Romania.

The Azzurri play Belgium – currently first in the FIFA World Rankings – in Brussels on Friday evening, then host Romania at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna on Tuesday November 17.

Italy will also present their new Puma jersey in Florence tomorrow.

Cerci earns his comeback after finally playing regularly for Milan in recent weeks, while Okaka has rediscovered his form at Anderlecht.

Stefano Okaka, Alessio Cerci and Emanuele Giaccherini are in Italy’s squad for friendlies against Belgium and Romania.

The Azzurri play Belgium – currently first in the FIFA World Rankings – in Brussels on Friday evening, then host Romania at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna on Tuesday November 17.

Italy will also present their new Puma jersey in Florence tomorrow.

Cerci earns his comeback after finally playing regularly for Milan in recent weeks, while Okaka has rediscovered his form at Anderlecht.

Claudio Marchisio returns after injury problems, but Andrea Pirlo is left out to seek alternatives.

Domenico Berardi had been called up by the senior squad last time and pulled out due to injury.

The Sassuolo forward is now fully fit, but is called by the Under-21 side instead.

Surprisingly, Sampdoria full-back Lorenzo De Silvestri is called up despite only this evening making his first appearance since rupturing knee ligaments in June.

Emanuele Giaccherini gets a recall too following two goals in as many games for Bologna.

There had been strong reports Napoli midfielder Jorginho would be given his maiden senior call-up, but he’s nowhere to be seen.

Neither are Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne or Torino's high-scoring midfielder Marco Benassi.

Gk: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Daniele Padelli (Torino), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain);

D: Francesco Acerbi (Sassuolo), Luca Antonelli (Milan), Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Lorenzo De Silvestri (Sampdoria);

M: Giacomo Bonaventura (Milan), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Alessio Cerci (Milan), Stephan El Shaarawy (AS Monaco), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini (Bologna), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Milan), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Roberto Soriano (Sampdoria);

F: Manolo Gabbiadini (Napoli), Eder (Sampdoria), Stefano Okaka (Anderlecht), Graziano Pellé (Southampton), Simone Zaza (Juventus)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *