Mancini appoints Italy’s provisional EM squad around Grifo

Vincenzo Griffo of the Bundesliga club SC Freiburg is beginning preparations for Euro 2020 with four-time world champion Italy. The midfielder is part of a 33-strong squad that was named by national coach Roberto Mancini on Monday evening soon after his contract extension. The provisional EM squad also includes former Dortmund Siro Immobil (Lazio Rome) and defensive veteran Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus Turin.

“Azurri” will take on San Marino in the final European Championship Test on May 28, after which Mancini will drop seven players and appoint his 26 European Championship players. Dress rehearsal is scheduled for June 4 against the Czech Republic.

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At the Pan-European Championships, Italy fights against Turkey (11 June), Switzerland (16 June) and Wales (20 June) for a place in the knockout round.

Mancini extended his contract for four years on Monday before his nomination, so the 55-year-old will remain the coach of the 1968 European champion and will include the World Cup in 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

Provisional EM Squad of Italy:

Tor: Alessio Cragno (Cagliari Calcio), Gianluigi Donarumma (AC Maryland), Alex Merrett (SC Napel), Salvatore Sirigu (FC Turin)

Abwehr: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio Rome), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Maryland), Cristiano Biraghi (AC Florenz), Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini (apart from Juventus Turin), Giovanni di Lorenzo (SC Napel), Alessandro Florenzi (Paris Saint Germain) , Manuel Lazari (Lazio Rome), Gianluca Mancini (AS Rome), Leonardo Spinzola (other than AS Rome), Rafael Toloi (Atlanta Bergamo)

Mittfeld: Niccol ब Barella (Inter Maryland), Gaetano Castrovili (AC Florenz), Brian Cristante (AS Rome), Manuel Locatelli (US Susuolo Calcio), Lorenzo Pellegrini (AS Rome), Matteo Pacina (Atlanta Bergamo), Stephano Sensei (Inter Maryland) )), Marco Veratti (Paris Saint-Germain)

Sturm: Andrea Bellotti (FC Turin), Domenico Berardi (US Sasuolo Calcio), Federico Bernardeschi, Federico Chiesa (other than Juventus Turin), Vincenzo Griffo (SC Freiburg), Ciro Immobile (Lazio Rome), Lorenzo Insigne (SC Napel), Mois Keane (Paris Saint-Germain), Matteo Politano (SC Napel), Giacomo Raspadori (US Susuolo Calcio).