No Balotelli as Italy name squad

By Daily Sports on November 6, 2016

Italy coach, Giam Piero Ventura has left Mario Balotelli out in the cold ahead of an upcoming World Cup qualifier at Liechtenstein and a friendly at home to Germany.

Ventura, announcing his 28-man squad on Saturday, instead recalled Simone Zaza despite the fact he has failed to find the net since joining West Ham from Juventus in the summer.

Balotelli has not played for Italy since their disastrous first-round exit from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, after which he was partly blamed for the Azzurri's doomed campaign.

He had been expected to feature in Ventura's squad after scoring seven league goals since joining French outfit Nice from Liverpool on the transfer deadline day at the end of August.

But, even in the absence of Graziano Pelle – who was suspended for failing to shake Ventura's hand after his second-half substitution against Spain last month – it was not enough to sway Ventura.

Inter Milan striker Eder, who usually plays alongside Pelle, is set to be partnered with either one of Serie A's two most on-form Italian strikers.

Lazio's Ciro Immobile has hit nine goals this campaign, only one behind the league-leading tally of Roma's Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko. Andrea Belotti, meanwhile, has found the net six times for Torino.

In midfield, Ventura has recalled Claudio Marchisio, who has recently returned to the fray for Juventus following a six-month absence due to a knee injury.

Lazio midfielder Danilo Cataldi and Sassuolo winger Matteo Politano are also in the squad, but have yet to debut for the Azzurri.

Italy face Liechtenstein in Vaduz on November 12 in a World Cup qualifier, and host Germany at Milan's San Siro ground three days later.

Italy squad

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

Defenders: Luca Antonelli (AC Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United/ENG), Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan), Alessio Romagnoli (AC Milan), Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Davide Zappacosta (Torino)

Midfielders: Giacomo Bonaventura (AC Milan), Antonio Candreva (Inter Milan), Danilo Cataldi (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Matteo Politano (Sassuolo), Nicola Sansone (Villarreal/ESP), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain/FRA)

Strikers: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Eder (Inter Milan), Manolo Gabbiadini (Napoli), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Leonardo Pavoletti (Genoa), Simone Zaza (West Ham/ENG) (supersport.com)

•Photo shows Mario Balotelli

Source Daily Sports

Posted November 6, 2016


 

You may also like...
South Africa, Benin Appeal To FIFA After World...

Super Eagles drop 6 spots in FIFA ranking...

How Salah Inspires Liverpool Teammates — Alisson

Arsenal Boss Arteta Urges Slumping Aubameyang Not To...

Chelsea scores late to stop West Ham moving...

Pogba Joins Burna Boy’s Birthday Celebration In Miami...

 

Latest News Osimhen caged as Fenerbahce hold Gala Aruna begins African Cup title defence Commonwealth Games: 15 Secondary Schools For Drug-abuse Seminar In-form Osimhen eager ahead W’Cup qualifiers Onyedika adds to Eagles injury list ahead W’Cup qualifiers Ikoyi Club commits to sports dev as Zibiri-Aliu bows out D’Tigers pick 2025 AfroBasket ticket Lagos FA secretary eyes Sports Festival success Fury’s retirement in doubt as Joshua fight offer looms Olise joins Trabzonspor Women from Edo Queens World Series: Green Falcons to play Ghana, France friendlies My family won’t feed on legacy, boxing is about business – Lawal

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,316 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,462 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,490 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,126 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,088 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,078 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,891 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,442 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,532 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,189 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,629 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,056 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media