Inter Milan Players Arrive for Italy Duty After Champions League Final Defeat
Inter Milan’s players arrived for Italy duty on Monday, two days after their Champions League final defeat to Manchester City. The five Inter players called up – Nicolo Barella, Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, Francesco Acerbi, and Matteo Darmian – arrived at the Italian team’s national training center at Coverciano, near Florence. They are preparing for their Nations League semi-final against Spain in Enschede, the Netherlands on Thursday.
The focus is now on Thursday’s game, according to defender Acerbi. “There is respect for Spain, but no fear: we know their strengths and their weaknesses.” European champions Italy are looking to bounce back after failing to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup. “Not qualifying for the World Cup was probably our fault. Now there’s this Nations League, we want to win it, we’re going to give something extra to make it happen,” he added.
Italy’s Squad for the Nations League Semi-Final
The Italian national team has called up 25 players for the Nations League semi-final against Spain. The squad includes Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Empoli) as goalkeepers. The defenders are Francesco Acerbi (Inter Milan), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Inter Milan), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan), Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma), and Rafael Toloi (Atalanta).
The midfielders are Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Davide Frattesi (Sassuolo), Jorginho (Arsenal/ENG), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), and Nicolo Zaniolo (Galatasaray/TUR). The forwards are Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds/ENG), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), and Mateo Retegui (Tigre/ARG).
Italy’s Quest for Redemption
Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup was a major disappointment for the country. The team had won the tournament four times in the past and was expected to qualify easily. However, they finished third in their group behind Spain and Croatia, missing out on a place in the tournament.
Since then, Italy has undergone a major transformation under coach Roberto Mancini. The team has won 11 consecutive matches and is unbeaten in 28 games. They won the European Championship this summer, beating England in the final at Wembley Stadium.
Now, Italy is looking to win the Nations League and continue their dominance in international football. The team has a tough task ahead of them, facing Spain in the semi-finals. Spain has won the tournament once before, in 2019, and has a strong squad that includes players like Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, and Rodri.
However, Italy has shown that they are capable of beating anyone on their day. They have a solid defense, led by veteran defender Leonardo Bonucci, and a creative midfield that includes Jorginho and Marco Verratti. In attack, they have Ciro Immobile, who won the Golden Boot in Serie A last season.
Italy’s fans will be hoping that their team can continue their winning streak and lift another trophy this week. The players will be hoping to put their Champions League final defeat behind them and focus on the task at hand. With the talent and determination in the squad, Italy has a good chance of winning the Nations League and cementing their place as one of the best teams in the world.
Conclusion
Inter Milan’s players have arrived for Italy duty ahead of their Nations League semi-final against Spain. The team is looking to bounce back after failing to qualify for the World Cup in 2018 and is determined to win the Nations League. Italy has a strong squad that includes some of the best players in Europe and is unbeaten in 28 games. They face a tough task against Spain, but with their talent and determination, they have a good chance of winning the tournament. Italy’s fans will be hoping that their team can continue their winning streak and lift another trophy this week.