Official: Spalletti confirms Italy squad for Germany Nations League quarter-finals | OneFootball

Italy national team head coach Luciano Spalletti has confirmed his squad of 25 players to take on Germany across two legs of the Nations League quarter-finals coming up during the March international break.

The Azzurri will take on Die Mannschaft over two legs of the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals during the March international break. Italy will host in San Siro for the first leg on March 20, before travelling to Dortmund for the return leg at Signal Iduna Park a few days later on March 23.

The winners will go on to compete in the Nations League finals, which will be held in either Germany or Italy. The winner of this tie will host the Nations League finals at the beginning of June.

There are few surprises among Spalletti’s selections. There is no Federico Dimarco due to injury, which means there is a first call-up for Atalanta left wing-back Matteo Ruggeri, along with Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie, who is likely to start in Dimarco’s absence.

Atalanta defender Matteo Ruggeri celebrates after scoring his team second goal during the UEFA Europa league second leg semi-final between Atalanta and Marseille at Bergamo’s stadium on May 9, 2024. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP) (Photo by ISABELLA BONOTTO/AFP via Getty Images)

Also earning a first call-up to the senior side is Torino midfielder Cesare Casadei, who has impressed in his first weeks of Serie A football after returning to Italy from Chelsea during the January transfer window.

MONZA, ITALY – MARCH 02: Cesare Casadei of Torino looks on after the Serie A match between Monza and Torino at U-Power Stadium on March 02, 2025 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

Udinese striker Lorenzo Lucca has also been included. He earned his first Italy call-up to this time last year, in March 2024, but remains uncapped.

The rest of the Italy squad is as expected. A strong goalkeeping department will be led by captain Gianluigi Donnarumma. The ‘new BBC’ – Alessandro Buongiorno, Alessandro Bastoni and Riccardo Calafiori are among the centre-backs, as well as Juventus’s Federico Gatti and Fiorentina youngster Pietro Comuzzo.

Spalletti has plenty of options in midfield with Nicolo Barella, Sandro Tonali, Nicolo Rovella, Samuele Ricci, Casadei and the favoured Davide Frattesi.

Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean, Serie A’s highest goalscorers this team, are the go-to centre-forwards, joined by Lucca, while Daniel Maldini, Matteo Politano, Giacomo Raspadori and Mattia Zaccagni make up the rest of the attacking department.

Official: Italy squad confirmed for Germany

Goalkeepers: Donnarumma (PSG), Meret (Napoli), Vicario (Tottenham).

Defenders: Bastoni (Inter) Buongiorno (Napoli), Calafiori (Arsenal), Cambiaso (Juventus), Comuzzo (Fiorentina), Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Gatti (Juventus), Ruggeri (Atalanta), Udogie (Tottenham).

Midfielders: Barella (Inter), Casadei (Torino), Frattesi (Inter), Ricci (Torino), Rovella (Lazio), Tonali (Newcastle).

Forwards: Kean (Fiorentina), Lucca (Udinese), Maldini (Atalanta), Politano (Napoli), Raspadori (Napoli), Retegui (Atalanta), Zaccagni (Lazio).