Mancini calls up Pobega for decisive World Cup qualifiers

Posted November 05, 2021 7:00 am

The Associated Press

AC Milan's Alexis Saelemaekers, right, fights for the ball with Torino's Tommaso Pobega during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Torino, at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) The Associated Press

ROME (AP) - Torino midfielder Tommaso Pobega was called up to Italy's squad for the first time Friday for decisive World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Northern Ireland.

Coach Roberto Mancini named 28 players for the two qualifiers, against Switzerland in Rome on Nov. 12 and vs. Northern Ireland in Belfast Nov. 15.

AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali received his first call-up in a year with usual starter Marco Verratti out injured.

Italy and Switzerland each have 14 points atop Group C, with only the first-place finisher getting a direct spot at next year's tournament in Qatar. The second-place finisher goes into a playoff.

Bulgaria is third in the group with eight points, Northern Ireland has five and Lithuania has three.

Italy beat Switzerland 3-0 in the group phase of the European Championship in June before going on to claim the title. The teams then drew 0-0 in Basel in September.

Center forwards Ciro Immobile and Andrea Belotti return to the squad from injuries, resulting in Moise Kean being left out.

The 22-year-old Pobega, who is on loan from AC Milan, had been a key member of Italy's under-21 squad.

ITALY:

Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Cagliari), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Genoa).

Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Cristiano Biraghi (Fiorentina), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Davide Calabria (AC Milan), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Emerson Palmieri (Lyon), Gianluca Mancini (Roma).

Midfieldersi: NicolÃ² Barella (Inter Milan), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho (Chelsea), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Tommaso Pobega (Torino), Sandro Tonali (AC Milan), NicolÃ² Zaniolo (Roma).

Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo).

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AC Milan's Sandro Tonali passes the ball past Porto's Luis Diaz during the Champions League group B soccer match between AC Milan and Porto at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) The Associated Press

Lazio's Ciro Immobile celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League Group E soccer match between Marseille and Lazio at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille, Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) The Associated Press

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