Gattuso Shuffles Italy Squad After Winger Injuries Ahead of October Qualifiers

Pressure grows with Norway leading Group I, making October points vital.

Overview

After Serie A’s sixth round, Mattia Zaccagni and Matteo Politano withdrew from Italy’s squad, with Roberto Piccoli and Leonardo Spinazzola drafted in.
The FIGC confirmed Spinazzola’s return as his first national-team call-up since September 2023.
Italy play Estonia on October 11 in Tallinn and Israel on October 14 in Udine in 2026 World Cup qualifying.
Reporting from La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests Gennaro Gattuso will keep a back four and two strikers, with options including Andrea Cambiaso on the right or a narrower midfield setup.
Italy trail Norway on points and goal difference in Group I, making a playoff route likely despite September’s 5-0 and 5-4 wins that highlighted both attacking punch and defensive frailty.