Gennaro Gattuso is lower than per week away from saying his Italy nationwide group squad for the World Cup play-off marketing campaign on the finish of the month, and although a number of Azzurri hopefuls can be concerned in Udinese vs. Juventus in on Saturday night, solely three or 4 are anticipated to be underneath real consideration for a call-up.
Italy are making ready to tackle Northern Eire in a World Cup play-off semi-final on March 26, and the winner of that tie will go on to face both Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away from dwelling on March 31 in a one-off decider for a spot on the ultimate match.
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This weekend’s spherical of Serie A fixtures is the final set of league matches earlier than Gattuso declares his squad, and the penultimate set of league video games earlier than gamers head off for the worldwide break.
Which Juventus gamers might characteristic within the subsequent Italy squad?
On the Serie A schedule this Saturday night is Juventus’s go to to Udinese. The Outdated Woman have a former CT in Luciano Spalletti in cost, and are anticipated to subject quite a few Italy hopefuls in Udine this night.
Juventus have two Italian goalkeepers on their books in Michele Di Gregorio and Mattia Perin, however the former has upset along with his performances in 2025-26 and has not too long ago misplaced his no.1 standing to the latter. Neither are anticipated to be within the Italy squad this month.
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Federico Gatti began in Juventus’s 4-0 win over Pisa final weekend, however he’s not assured to maintain his place within the Bianconeri line-up, neither is he a nailed-on member of Gattuso’s Italy squad. That mentioned, his inclusion can’t be definitively dominated out both. The probabilities of him beginning over the likes of Alessandro Bastoni, Riccardo Calafiori, Alessandro Buongiorno or Gianluca Mancini are slim, although.
The opposite three Juventus gamers which might be in competition to characteristic in Italy’s World Cup play-off squad are Andrea Cambiaso, Manuel Locatelli and Fabio Miretti.
TURIN – MARCH 07: Andrea Cambiaso of Juventus celebrates after scoring the opening purpose throughout the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Pisa SC at Juventus Stadium on March 07, 2026 in Turin. (Photograph by Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Photos)
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Cambiaso has been a mainstay of the Italy set-up underneath its final three head coaches, however regardless of his capability to play on both flank, he’ll face loads of competitors from the likes of Federico Dimarco, Marco Palestra and doubtlessly even Michael Kayode on each side of the pitch.
Locatelli, in the meantime, is predicted to begin for Italy on the base of its midfield, which can also be prone to characteristic Inter’s Nicolo Barella and Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali.
Miretti can also be one of many midfielders in competition to be known as as much as the Italy squad, albeit as extra of a squad participant given the aforementioned choices within the beginning XI.
SASSUOLO – JANUARY 06: Fabio Miretti of Juventus celebrates scoring his group’s second purpose throughout the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo. (Photograph by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Photos)
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Essentially the most high-profile Italy participant on Udinese’s books is Nicolo Zaniolo, who, nevertheless, isn’t anticipated to be known as as much as the nationwide group squad this month in response to current stories from varied retailers in Italy.