Official: Mancini names 31-man Italy squad for France and Belgium

Official: Mancini names 31-man Italy squad for France and Belgium Roberto Mancini has named an Italy national team squad of 31 players for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against France and Belgium in November, including several fresh faces in Alphadjo Cisse, Simone Lontani and Riccardo Cassano. Italy will be in action against France in San Siro next Thursday, November 12, and away against Belgium on Sunday, November 15. The Italy starting XI against France for the Nations League Matchday 3 in Paris, October 2, 2026 (@azzurri) As things stand, Italy sit in second place in their Nations League group on seven points after four matches. France lead the way on 10, Belgium are in third on six and Turkiye are bottom on zero. After naming a squad of 34 players for his first camp back in charge of the Italy national team last month, Mancini has named a roster of 31 players this time around, handing call-ups to several uncapped players including Cisse, Lontani, Cassano, Mattia Liberali and Luca Koleosho. OCTOBER 28: Alphadjo Cisse of AC Milan celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Bologna FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 28, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) There is also a call-up for Honest Ahanor, who earned his first two caps under Silvio Baldini in a pair of international friendlies back in June, but has not yet earned his first cap in a competitive fixture. He was selected in September, but did not feature and was then allowed to return to the Italy U21 side to help them qualify for the upcoming European Championships. There is also a return to the Italy squad for Marco Palestra, who has recently made his first Premier League appearances for Chelsea after picking up an injury just before the season began. There are no major surprises in terms of absentees: The regular core of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessandro Bastoni, Riccardo Calafiori, Federico Dimarco, Nicolo Barella, Sandro Tonali and Pio Esposito have all been included. UDINE – OCTOBER 14: Sandro Tonali of Italy warms up prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) There is no Giovanni Di Lorenzo, who was forced off injured at half-time of Napoli’s recent 2-0 defeat against Juventus. Official: Italy squad confirmed for November Nations League fixtures Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Man City), Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus). Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Crystal Palace), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Daniele Ghilardi (Roma), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Marco Palestra (Chelesa), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta). Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Riccardo Cassano (Como), Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP), Nicolò Fagioli (Fiorentina), Davide Frattesi (Lazio), Simone Lontani (Parma), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Samuele Ricci (Como), Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), Sandro Tonali (Tottenham). Attackers: Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna), Alphadjo Cisse (Milan), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Luca Koleosho (Paris FC), Mattia Liberali (Como), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), Nicolo Zaniolo (Udinese). 📋💙 La lista dei 31 convocati del Ct Roberto #Mancini per le prossime sfide di Nations League contro Francia e Belgio#Nazionale 🇮🇹 #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/yFgZYqDwlR