Gennaro Gattuso has finalized his matchday squad for tonight’s World Cup play-off semifinal against Northern Ireland, notably omitting Juventus defender Andrea Cambiaso and the injured Gianluca Scamacca.
Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso has dropped five players ahead of tonight’s high-stakes World Cup play-off semifinal against Northern Ireland.
Atalanta striker Gianluca Scamacca misses out due to injury, while Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso is a surprise tactical omission.
Also cut from the final list are goalkeeper Elia Caprile, defender Diego Coppola, and winger Nicolò Cambiaghi, as the Azzurri fight to secure their place in the 2026 tournament.
The squad features a first senior call-up for 21-year-old Marco Palestra, who provides cover on the right flank in Cambiaso’s absence.
Following Federico Chiesa’s earlier withdrawal, the pressure shifts to the remaining attackers, including Retegui and Kean.
Notably, the final selection contains zero AC Milan players, a point of contention among fans as Italy enters this critical knockout stage under Gattuso’s leadership at the Coverciano training base.