Italy: Jorginho, Insigne, Motta in
Jorginho and Federico Bernardeschi get their first senior Italy call, while Lorenzo Insigne and Thiago Motta return for friendlies against Spain and Germany. Antonio Conte has named his squad for the two games as he builds up to Euro 2016, having already announced he’s leaving after the tournament. The Azzurri host Spain at the Dacia Arena – formerly the Stadio Friuli – in Udine on Thursday March 24 and all 22,548 tickets are already sold out. They then visit World Cup holders Germany at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Tuesday March 29. The team will meet at the Coverciano training camp on Monday morning. Napoli midfielder Jorginho receives his first ever senior Italy call, while Insigne left with a knee injury in the one time he was brought in by Conte in October 2015. Insigne has six senior Italy caps, but the most recent was in June 2014. The surprise is the return of Thiago Motta, as the PSG midfielder had been left out of the Italy squad since the 2014 World Cup. Marco Verratti is called up, but only to undergo physical tests on his recurring injury. Federico Bernardeschi was called up for the Italy Under-21 side this week, but is poached from Gigi Di Biagio's team for his first senior call.
GK: Buffon, Perin, Sirigu
D: Acerbi, Antonelli, Astori, Barzagli, Bonucci, Darmian, De Silvestri, Ranocchia
M: Florenzi, Giaccherini, Jorginho, Montolivo, Thiago Motta, Parolo, Soriano, Verratti
F: Bernardeschi, Bonaventura, Candreva, Eder, El Shaarawy, Immobile, Insigne, Pellè, Zaza
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