Italy have named a 31-man squad for their senior side, and the biggest detail is the churn inside it. Four players are in for the first time, while Issa Doumbia is back after making his Italy debut a month and a half ago.
Roberto Mancini's list includes first senior call-ups for Alphadjo Cissè, Mattia Liberali, Riccardo Cassano and Simone Lontani. It also brings Doumbia back into the frame after a quick return, which is a sign this selection is being shaped by current form rather than habit alone.
The first-time call-ups
The new names are Cissè, Liberali, Cassano and Lontani. That is the main point of the squad announcement, because four debutants in one group is a clear shift in how Mancini is using this window.
Cissè stands out among them because his season has already produced 4 Serie A goals and 3 in the Europa League. Those numbers give his promotion some substance, even if the call is still just a call-up list and not a match-day certainty.
Doumbia's quick return
Doumbia's recall is the other obvious headline. He had only made his Italy debut a month and a half ago, and now he is back in the squad for the upcoming Nations League group stage.
His club minutes give the move some grounding. Doumbia has made 10 Primeira Liga appearances and played 791 league minutes this season, while also making 4 Nations League appearances. The mix suggests a player who has been used regularly enough for another look, not simply picked on reputation.
Italy host France on Thursday, 12 November, at San Siro before travelling to face Belgium on Sunday, 15 November.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
