By Anna Italia
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Italian Soccer Serie A Blog supports the Italian National Team

Italy Head Coach Gian Piero Ventura has called up 25 players for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers against  FYR Macedonia on October 6 at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino in Turin, Italy at 20:45 and against Albania on Monday 9 October 2017 at the Loro Borici Stadium in Shkoder at 20:45 CEST.

Here is the situation.  Italy must win both games to secure the Second Position in Group G.   Italy ranking in the 17th position of the FIFA World Cup Ranking with 1035 points.   The victory is a must to grab a good chance for the play-off draw on  October 17 in Zurich.

UEFA World Cup Qualifier Group G Standing after matchday 8, September 5, 2017	Played	Won	Draw	Lost	For	Against	Goal difference	Points
Spain	8	7	1	0	32	3	29	22
Italy	8	6	1	1	19	7	12	19
Albania	8	4	1	3	10	9	1	13
Israel	8	3	0	5	9	14	-5	9
FYR Macedonia	8	2	1	5	10	14	-4	7
Liechtenstein	8	0	0	8	1	34	-33	0

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Italy Squad list

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Mattia Perin (Genoa);

Defenders: Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Milan), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Danilo D’Ambrosio (Inter), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Leonardo Spinazzola (Atalanta), Davide Zappacosta (Chelsea);

Midfielders: Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain);

Wingers: Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Antonio Candreva (Inter), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Simone Verdi (Bologna);

Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Eder Citadin Martins (Inter), Manolo Gabbiadini (Southampton), Ciro Immobile (Lazio).

Note:   From the list the following players could not make it due to injury and not enough time to recover:   Marco Verratti was  ruled out of the Azzurri squad, while Roma’s Lorenzo Pellegrini  also withdrawn following an injury picked up in Sunday’s match against AC Milan.  Andrea Belotti and Daniele De Rossi also out.  Ventura opted to replace the injured players calling up Roberto Inglese, Roberto Gagliardini, Nicolò Barella and Bryan Cristante, Barella and Cristante receiving their first called up with the National Team.

Photo:  facebook.com/NazionaleCalcio

Italy Schedule

Sunday 1st October
Arrive at Coverciano before 24:00 CEST

Monday 2nd October
13:40 Presentation of new sponsor with coach’s press conference to follow
16:00 Training (First 15 minutes open to press.)

Tuesday 3rd October
13:45 Meeting with the press (players)
16:30 Training (First 15 minutes open to press.)

Wednesday 4th October
13:45 Meeting with press (Players)
16:30 Training (First 15 minutes open to press.)

Thursday 5th October
10:00 Training MD-1  (First 15 minutes open to press.)
16:20 Travel from Florence to Turin
17:45 Walk Around
18:00 Press conference with coach and one player Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino

FYR Macedonia’s  MD-1 Schedule (Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino)
10:00 Training MD-1 at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino (First 15 minutes open to press.)
17:00 Press conference with coach and one player

Friday 6th October
20:45 ITALY vs. FYR MACEDONIA
Meetings with press afterwards

Saturday 7th October
17:00 Training at the  Stadio Filadelfia (open to press)

Sunday 8th October
10:00 Training MD-at Sisport (First 15 minutes open)
15:45 Travel from Turin to Tirana
17:40 Flight lands  in Tirana and transfer toLoro-Boriçi stadium in Shköder (Around 1h 30m)
19:30    Walk Around
20:00    Press conference with coach and one player at Loro-Borici Stadium

Monday 9th October
20:45 ALBANIA vs. ITALY
Meetings to follow and transfer to Tirana airport before flights to Milan and Rome