Manager Luciano Spalletti is facing a defensive injury crisis ahead of the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign, with Matteo Gabbia withdrawing in the latest Italy team news.
Latest Italy Team News vs Norway
Italy are the only team yet to play a match in Group I of European qualifying, and with Norway accelerating ahead with two wins and six points on the board already, manager Luciano Spalletti has claimed “everything in on the line” as to whether they will qualify or not.
Describing opponents Norway as the best iteration in the nation’s history, Spalletti is under no illusion that picking up points on the road on matchday one will be crucial.
That, of course, is easier said than done given the Norwegians have won four consecutive matches, scoring 18 goals in the process.
Having failed to qualify for the World Cup since 1998, the weight of expectation on Norway’s shoulders can not be understated, but a promising start to their qualifying campaign has enthused the nation.
Friday’s opener in Oslo, where Norway have not lost since March 2024, is about as tough as it gets for Italy in Group I.
To make matters worse, the squad has been plagued by a string of injuries and withdrawals, forcing Spalletti to plug the gaps with players on stand-by.
Veteran Francesco Acerbi rejected a call-up after expressing a feeling that he is “no longer wanted,” while Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori remains sidelined with a bruised knee.
Elsewhere, Juventus’ Manuel Locatelli will sit out June’s double-header, possibly with a view to ensuring his availability for the Club World Cup later this month.
Elsewhere, Fiorentina duo Pietro Comuzzo and Luca Ranieri dropped out, with Alessandro Buongiorno of Napoli stepping in, while the latest casualty to withdraw at the final hour — Matteo Gabbia — will be replaced by Daniele Rugani.
Rugani, who spent last season on loan at Ajax from Juventus, earns his first Azzurri call-up in seven years, and is the only capped Italy defender in the squad alongside Alessandro Bastoni.
Moise Kean is also reported to have left the camp early on Thursday morning.
Italy Predicted Lineup vs Norway
It is likely Spalletti will be forced to field a team who have rarely played with each other, which only heightens his fears over the repercussions of this fixture.
Possible XI: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Gatti, Bastoni; Cambiaso, Barella, Ricci, Tonali, Udogie; Raspadori, Retegui.
Italy Squad For World Cup Qualifiers
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham);
Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Diego Coppola (Hellas Verona), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham), Davide Zappacosta (Atalanta);
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Cesare Casadei (Torino), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Samuele Ricci (Torino), Nicolò Rovella (Lazio), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle);
Forwards: Lorenzo Lucca (Udinese), Daniel Maldini (Atalanta), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Atalanta).
Italy National Team Schedule
Italy’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign kicks off in Oslo against Group I leaders Norway.
They return home to Sassuolo’s Mapei Stadium where they will be expecting to put points on the board against Moldova, who have fallen to defeat in both of their opening matches.
- Norway vs Italy, June 6 2025
- Italy vs Moldova, June 9 2025
According to live betting sites, Italy are ever so slightly favoured to collect all three points in their opening match, although the odds suggest there is very little separating Group I’s favourites.
