ITALY SQUAD ANNOUNCED FOR FRIENDLY
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There is a one match international break approaching to kick off the season. For Giuseppe Bergomi's renowned Italy side, this constitutes of hosting the Egyptian national team at the Stadio Olimpico in a week's time. The Italians will hope to get off to a strong start in this friendly to prepare for the upcoming four World Cup qualifiers remaining over the next two months to ensure their place in Russia next summer.
The manager, Bergomi, has announced his 23 man squad for the match, which includes an impressive 12 players from Serie A, showing the strength of the country's domestic league. Five of those players come from Inter Milan, Bergomi's club side, and while some fans may accuse him of bias, nobody can deny he's been getting results.
The full squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers
Salvatore Sirigu (Paris St.-Germain)
Emiliano Viviano (Juventus)
Francesco Bardi (Ajax)
Defenders
Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan)
Davide Santon (Tottenham)
Davide Astori (Juventus)
Andrea Ranocchia (Inter)
Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus)
Guilherme Siqueira (Granada)
Ignazio Abate (Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders
Giacomo Bonaventura (Napoli)
Lorenzo Crisetig (Inter)
Andrea Poli (Inter)
Marco Verratti (Liverpool)
Claudio Marchisio (Juventus)
Daniele De Rossi (Leverkusen)
Alessandro Florenzi (Udinese)
Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus)
Forwards
Mario Balotelli (Bayern Munich)
Giuseppe Rossi (Villareal)
Fabio Borini (Porto)
Lorenzo Insigne (Inter)
Mattia Destro (Inter)