Italy’s preliminary 30-man squad for the upcoming European Championship has been announced, and it features some notable inclusions and omissions. One of the most eye-catching aspects is the inclusion of Nicolo Fagioli, who recently returned from a seven-month ban for breaching betting rules. Fagioli, a midfielder for Juventus, has impressed the national team coach, Luciano Spalletti, with his performances since his ban was lifted.
In October 2023, Fagioli was handed a 12-month ban by the FIGC (Italian FA) for violating gambling rules. However, five months of the ban were commuted after Fagioli completed community service and underwent therapy. He also had to pay a fine of €12,500. During his ban, Fagioli spoke at amateur clubs, federal training centers, and addiction charities as part of his community service.
Fagioli made his return to the field in a recent Serie A draw against Bologna, and it seems his performances have caught the attention of the national team coach. His inclusion in the squad shows that Spalletti believes in his abilities and trusts him to make an impact at the European Championship.
Alongside Fagioli, three uncapped players have been included in the squad. Bologna’s Riccardo Calafiori, Lazio’s Ivan Provodel, and Michael Folorunsho, who is on loan at Hellas Verona from Napoli, have all been given the opportunity to represent Italy on the international stage.
However, there are also some notable omissions from Spalletti’s squad. Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli and Lazio striker Ciro Immobile, who has scored 17 goals in 57 international appearances, have not made the cut. Their exclusion highlights the fierce competition for places in the squad and the difficult decisions that the coach had to make.
The squad will have two friendlies to prepare for the European Championship. They will face Turkey on June 4 and Bosnia five days later. Following these matches, four players will need to be omitted from the squad, as the tournament’s squads are capped at 26 players.
Interestingly, only two players based in England have been included in the squad. Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and Arsenal midfielder Jorginho will be representing Italy at the European Championship. Vicario’s Spurs teammate Destiny Udogie, unfortunately, misses out due to injury.
Several other players from English clubs have also missed out on selection. Nicolo Zaniolo, on loan at Aston Villa from Galatasaray, Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, and Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto have not been included in the squad.
Italy will kick off their Euro 2024 campaign against Albania on June 15, followed by matches against Spain and Croatia. The team will be hoping to build on their recent success, having won the European Championship in 2020. With a blend of experienced players and exciting young talents, Italy will be aiming to make a strong impression at the tournament.