Italy: Jorginho, Florenzi and Zaza return to the squad as 27 are called up for Sweden play-off

Italian National Team

Gian Piero Ventura has named 27 players in his squad for the two matches against Sweden in the play-off for a place in 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The first leg will be at the Friends Arena in Solna at 20:45 CET on 10th November before the return leg at 20:45 on 13th November at Milan’s Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

Jorginho is back for Italy after he last appeared on 6th June 2016 in a friendly against Finland while Alessandro Florenzi and Simone Zaza are back for the first time since October and November 2016. After missing the FYR Macedonia and Albania matches in October, Andrea Belotti, Marco Verratti and Daniele De Rossi are all back fit and in the squad.

The Azzurri will arrive tomorrow evening at Coverciano where they will train until Thursday when they depart for Stockholm. The day after the away leg, the National Team will return to Italy and relocate to the Suning Centre in Appiano Gentile where they will prepare for the second leg.

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: Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Antonio Candreva (Inter), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Roberto Gagliardini (Inter), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Jorge Luiz Frello Jorginho (Napoli), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain);
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Eder Citadin Martins (Inter), Manolo Gabbiadini (Southampton), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Simone Zaza (Valencia).

Italy’s Schedule (All times CET)

Sunday 5th November 
Arrive in Coverciano by 24:00

Monday 6th November
13:30 Coach’s press conference
15:30   Training (First 15 minutes open to press)

Tuesday 7th November
13:00  Press Conference (Player)
15:00   Training (First 15 minutes open to press)

Wednesday 8th November
10:00  Training (closed to press)
13:30  Press conference (player)
15:30    Training (closed to press)

Thursday 9th November
10:00   Training MD-1 (First 15 minutes open to press)
16:20  Charter flight from Florence to Stockholm
19:20  Arrive in Stockhol and transfer to Friends Arena
19:45  Walk Around
20:00 Press conference MD-1 (Coach and one player)

Friday 10th November 
20:45       Sweden vs. Italy
Media activity and return to hotel to follow

Saturday 11th November
10:45 Transfer to Stockholm airport
11.45 Fligth to Milan Malpensa
14:40 Land at Milan Malpensa and transfer to Suning Centre in Appiano Gentile
16:00 Training (closed to press)

Sunday 12th November
13:45 Press conference MD-1 (Coach and one player)**
15:00 Training MD-1 (First 15 minutes open to press.)**

Monday 13th November
20:45        Sweden vs. Italy
Media Activities to follow

** Reserved to media with accreditation for Italy vs. Sweden. The FIGC will limit access to the press conference room according to the number of places available.

Source:  figc.it