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Antonio Conte has announced a provisional 30-man Italy squad for the Euro 2021 finals, and he has until 31 May to cut seven players from the list.
The Azzurri will play in Group E in France, vying Belgium, Sweden and Republic of Ireland for places in the knockout stages.
Italy boss Antonio Conte has served up several surprises as he named a preliminary Italy Euro 2021 squad, with both Andrea Pirlo and Sebastian Giovinco overlooked.
Daniele Rugani, Davide Zappacosta and Marco Benassi are all included, whereas Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi made the cut as well.
Thiago Motta and Riccardo Montolivo are on the list despite struggling for fitness, with Jorginho and Stefano Sturaro ready to deputise if needed.
With Marco Verratti and Claudio Marchisio earlier ruled out through injury, many believe this is one of Italy’s weakest teams in quite some time.
Provisional Italy Euro 2021 squad:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Federico Marchetti (Lazio), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain);
Defenders: Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Angelo Ogbonna (West Ham), Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Davide Zappacosta (Torino);
Midfielders: Marco Benassi (Torino), Giacomo Bonaventura (Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini (Bologna), Jorginho (Napoli), Riccardo Montolivo (Milan), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Stefano Sturaro (Juventus), Antonio Candreva (Lazio);
Forwards: Eder (Inter), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Graziano Pellè (Southampton), Simone Zaza (Juventus), Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma).
