Fagioli in defending champion Italy's provisional Euro 2024 squad after betting scandal
Juventus' Nicolo Fagioli celebrates after scoring the team's second goal, during the Serie A soccer match between Juventus and Inter at Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy, on Nov. 6, 2022. Nicolò Fagioli has been included in Italy’s provisional squad for the European Championship despite having only just returned from a seven-month ban for betting violations. Luciano Spalletti announced a provisional 30-man squad on Thursday for Italy’s defense of its title. Credit: AP/Marco Alpozzi
MILAN — Nicolò Fagioli has been included in Italy’s provisional squad for the European Championship despite having only just returned from a seven-month ban for betting violations.
Luciano Spalletti named 30 men on Thursday for Italy’s defense of its title.
Fagioli was suspended in October and also had to undergo treatment for a gambling addiction. The Juventus midfielder made his return as a substitute on Monday in a 3-3 draw against Bologna.
Fagioli played in six of Juventus’ eight Serie A matches before the ban and is considered one of Italy’s top young midfielders.
He made one appearance for Italy, in November 2022 as a late substitute in a win over Albania.
However, there was no space for Fagioli’s Juventus teammate Manuel Locatelli, one of the Euro 2020 champions.
Riccardo Calafiori has been summoned by Italy for the first time after Bologna’s impressive season. The defender helped Bologna qualify for the Champions League for the first time in its history.
Atalanta's Gianluca Scamacca, left, and Leverkusen's Piero Hincapie go for the ball during the Europa League final soccer match between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Credit: AP/Peter Morrison
Torino defender Raoul Bellanova and Hellas Verona midfielder Michael Folorunsho have also been included after being called up for the first time for the friendlies in March.
Italy forward Gianluca Scamacca — fresh from Atalanta’s stunning Europa League triumph — has been recalled after his impressive return to form since he was dropped for those friendly matches.
Ciro Immobile was left out. The 34-year-old had been Italy’s go-to man at center forward for years but has never performed as well with the national team as he has at Lazio.
Four players will need to be cut from the squad by June 6. The Euros kick off in Germany on June 14.
Italy coach Luciano Spalletti applauds before the Euro 2024 group C qualifying soccer match between Italy and Ukraine at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, on Sept.12, 2023. Nicolò Fagioli has been included in Italy’s provisional squad for the European Championship despite having only just returned from a seven-month ban for betting violations. Luciano Spalletti announced a provisional 30-man squad on Thursday for Italy’s defense of its title. Credit: AP/Luca Bruno
Italy starts its title defense against Albania in Dortmund the following day. Spain and Croatia are also in Group B.
Before departing for Germany, Italy plays warmup matches against Turkey on June 4 and Bosnia-Herzegovina five days later.
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Italy:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Ivan Provedel (Lazio), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham).
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Inter Milan), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Raoul Bellanova (Torino), Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino), Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Inter Milan), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta).
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter Milan), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus), Michael Folorunsho (Hellas Verona), Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan), Jorginho (Arsenal), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Samuele Ricci (Torino).
Forwards: Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Genoa), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio).
