Zaniolo leaves Italy camp for personal reasons as Mancini fields a young squad

Zaniolo leaves the camp

Nicolò Zaniolo has left Italy's training camp at Coverciano, near Florence, for personal reasons. Il Fatto Quotidiano reported that the nature of those reasons was still unclear, though no physical problem lay behind the decision. The Udinese forward, 27, had been a candidate to start against France on Thursday, 12 November, in a front three alongside Francesco Pio Esposito and Alphadjo Cisse. His father, Igor Zaniolo, told Fanpage that his son still had unfinished business with the national team. The federation is keeping the matter private out of respect for the player, since no physical problem is involved. Mancini loses a player he could have deployed in several positions, and has not yet decided whether to call up a replacement.

A squad built on youth

Mancini's group for the two games has 31 players, down from the 34 he used in the four earlier matches played over eleven days. Il Giornale put the squad's average age at 24 years and 171 days, the lowest of Mancini's 65 previous selections. Only goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is over thirty, and seven players are Under 21, or nine if Riccardo Cassano and Simone Lontani are counted. Zaniolo was the second player to leave the camp before the games, after defender Gianluca Mancini withdrew with an injury; the coach called up Palma of Udinese and then Federico Gatti, a central defender with experience. Mancini said the aim is to contend for qualification until the end.

“Our aim is to contend for qualification right to the end, and we want to raise the bar again.”

Mancini added that a good understanding has formed between the young players and the veterans since September.

Cisse and Liberali's first call-up

Alphadjo Cisse, a 20-year-old Milan forward born in October 2006, has scored five Serie A goals this season and a hat-trick in the Europa League. He returned from a serious injury that cost him the second half of last season, and he named Mario Balotelli as his idol among past Italy players. Cisse said that being in the squad is a great responsibility.

“Being here is a great responsibility, and playing for the national team at San Siro would be a source of pride.”

Mattia Liberali, a 19-year-old Como attacking midfielder, was Cisse's teammate at Catanzaro last season, and both are now first-time call-ups. Liberali described the group's approach in simple terms.

“We want to bring lightness and energy, you always have to step onto the pitch to enjoy yourself.”

What comes next

Italy play France at San Siro on Thursday, 12 November, and Belgium in Brussels on Sunday, 15 November. Il Giornale reported that more than 62,000 tickets had been sold for the France game. Italy is already assured of a seeded place in the European qualifying draw, which the paper linked to the team's recovery after missing three World Cups in a row. Il Giornale wrote that at least three young players could start in the two games.