By Anna Italia
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Italy head coach Gian Piero Ventura has called up 26 players for the International Friendly game against France on 1 September 2016 in Bari and the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Israel in Haifa on September 5, 2016 at 20:45.    Great news for young AC Milan goalkeeper  17 years old Gianluigi Donnarumma called up for the first time as well as  Alessio Romagnoli, Andrea Belotti and Leonardo Pavoletti  all receiving their first international call-ups.

Italy team squad will meet at the National Training Center in Coverciano on Sunday  28 August evening  after the end of the Serie A Week 2 games.  They will have their first training session on Monday morning at the National Training Centre.

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Ventura calling up several players making their comebacks to the Azzurri squad including Marco Verratti, who last played on 13th October 2015 against Norway in Euro qualifying; Manolo Gabbiadini, whose last game was on 17th November 2015 against Romania; and Luca Antonelli, who last appeared on 29th March 2016 against Germany.

As reported by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), on Wednesday evening, the Azzurri will travel to Bari ahead of their match against Euro 2016 runners-up France which takes place in the city on Thursday. The squad will then remain in the Puglia capital until Sunday afternoon when they leave for Haifa where they will take on Israel in their first match of FIFA World Cup qualifying the following evening.

Italy National Team 26 Squad called up list

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan), Federico Marchetti (Lazio);

Defenders: Luca Antonelli (AC Milan), Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan), Angelo Obinze Ogbonna (West Ham), Alessio Romagnoli (AC Milan), Daniele Rugani (Juventus);

Midfielders: Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Giacomo Bonaventura (AC Milan), Antonio Candreva (Inter), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (AC Milan), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain);

Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Eder Citadin Martins (Inter), Manolo Gabbiadini (Napoli), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Leonardo Pavoletti (Genoa), Graziano Pellè (Shandong Luneng).

Staff – Head Coach: Gian Piero Ventura; Assistant Coaches: Salvatore Sullo, Paolo Vanoli and Gianluca Spinelli; Secretary: Mauro Vladovich; Fitness coaches: Alessandro Innocenti and Giovanni Brignardello; Team Doctors: Enrico Castellacci and Carmine Costabile; Physiotherapists/Masseurs: Fabrizio Scalzi, Emanuele Randelli, Alfonso Casano and Pasquale Raia.

Photo:   figc.it

Italy’s schedule for the matches against France and Israel in September:

Saturday 27th August
Squad announced

Sunday 28th August
Players meet in Coverciano following the end of the league matches for their clubs.

Monday 29th August   
11:00 Training (closed)
13:30 Press conference with the head coach
17:30 Training (first 20’ open to press)

Tuesday 30th August
10:30 Training (closed)
13:30 Press conference unveiling the new structure of Club Italia followed by a press meeting with the players
17:00 Training (first 20’ open to press)

Wednesday 31st August    
10:00 Training (closed)
16:30 Training (closed)
18:30 Squad leave Coverciano for Florence airport
19:15 Chartered flight from Florence to Bari departs
20:30 Squad arrive in Bari and transfer to the Stadio San Nicola followed by press conference with the head coach and one player

Thursday 1st September        
21:00 ITALY vs. FRANCE FRIENDLY MATCH
At the end of the match, there will be a press meeting and players will return to the hotel for dinner

Friday 2nd September
17:30 Training at the Stadio San Nicola (first 20’ open to press)

Saturday 3rd September
10:30 Training at the Stadio San Nicola (first 20’ open to press)
followed by meeting with the press
17:00 Training at the Stadio San Nicola (closed)

Sunday 4th September  
10:00 Training at the Stadio San Nicola (closed)
15:15 Chartered flight from Bari to Tel Aviv departs
19:05 (18:05 CEST) Chartered flight arrives in Tel Aviv and squad transfer by bus to Haifa (1h 20mins)
20:45 (19:45 CEST) Pitch inspection at the S. Hofer Stadium and press conference with head coach and one player
Followed by transfer to hotel

Monday 5th September
21:45 (20:45 CEST) 2018 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING MATCH: ISRAEL vs. ITALY
Followed by meeting with the press and transfer to hotel

Tuesday 6th September
12:30 (11:30 CEST) Chartered flight leaves Tel Aviv for Milan Malpensa via Rome Fiumincino