World Cup Stakes In Focus As Napoli Vs Inter Milan Clash Fuels Azzurri Selection Battle | OneFootball

Napoli vs Inter Milan will not only influence the Serie A table, it will also have a direct impact on Italy and its road to the 2026 World Cup.

As highlighted by Tuttosport, tonight’s match at the Maradona features a core bloc of Azzurri regulars and candidates.

Therefore, making it a showcase with national-team significance, as per FCInterNews.

There will be at least ten players either on the pitch or on the bench who already have a steady place at Coverciano.

The list includes three untouchables under Gennaro Gattuso: Di Lorenzo, Barella and Dimarco.

Furthermore, alongside Alessandro Bastoni, absent only once due to suspension.

Napoli Vs Inter Milan – Young And Old Players Alike Watched By Italy

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 21: Francesco Pio Esposito of Internazionale warms up prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and US Sassuolo Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

They are joined by fellow internationals Politano, Spinazzola and Frattesi, while Pio Esposito is viewed as a rising option after scoring his first senior Italy goal in Estonia.

On top of that, the fixture would have also included Meret and Darmian, both currently out, and even Francesco Acerbi, who may not be entirely out of the national-team frame.

With so many Azzurri narratives intersecting, Tuttosport defines the clash as a true Derby d’Italia in international terms.

Indeed, a test not only for points and momentum, but also for reputations and opportunities on Italy’s path to 2026.