21 March 2022
The final weekend of March coincides with the last international break of the season, when the final remaining place for qualification to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in December will be decided.
One of those countries is Italy, and coach Roberto Mancini has called on Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Mattia De Sciglio from the Bianconeri ranks, as well as Manuel Locatelli, still self-isolating after being found positive for Covid-19. There is no calcio-passionate Italian that doesn’t know that the first date with destiny is Thursday 24th, when the Azzurri face North Macedonia. If successful, Italy will then play for qualification on Tuesday 29th.
Wojciech Szczesny's Poland will not play on Thursday against Russia. Instead, they have arranged a friendly against Scotland, whose match with Ukraine has been postponed, before playing the decisive match for a ticket to the World Cup next Tuesday.
Staying in Europe, there are friendly matches for Adrien Rabiot's France, versus Ivory Coast and South Africa on 25th and 29th respectively; for Matthijs de Ligt’s Netherlands against Denmark and Germany on 26th and 29th; and for Alvaro Morata's Spain on 26th against Albania and 29th against Iceland.
As for crucial World Cup qualifiers in South America, Juan Cuadrado's Colombia will see it out on the night between Thursday and Friday against Bolivia at home, and the night between Sunday and Monday against Venezuela away. Meanwhile Brazil, one of two countries that have already qualified, are busy with Arthur and Danilo involved, at more or less the same time, against Chile at home and Bolivia away.
It will not only be an intense period for the First Team players. There are also many Academy players called up by their national teams.
UNDER 23
We open with Matias Soulé, called up for the second time to Argentina’s senior squad for the closing two matches scheduled in the one South American qualifying group for Qatar 2022. The Albiceleste, the other country with Brazil that has already secured qualification, will face Venezuela on the night between March 25th and 26th, and Ecuador on the night between March 29th and 30th.
Belgium's Under 21 have called up Koni De Winter for the Euros qualifying match on Tuesday 29th against Denmark.
Norway Under 20, on the other hand, have called up Martin Palumbo for the head-to-heads with Romania (March 24) and Italy (March 28) in the “8 Nations” Tournament.
Involved in the Italy squad for the same tournament are Tommaso Barbieri, Giuseppe Leone, Alessandro Riccio, Nikola Sekulov and Emmanuele Zuelli, who other than Palumbo’s Norway also face Germany on March 24.
A call-up to the Italy Under 19 for Fabio Miretti, fresh from his Serie A debut against Salernitana. The Azzurrini find themselves in Helsinki for the second qualifying phase of the European Championships. Three matches await them: March 23rd against Germany, March 26th against hosts Finland and March 29th against Belgium. Only the group winners will claim a place for Slovakia, hosts of the European Championship finals, to be held in June.
UNDER 19
The Bianconeri Under-19 are just as heavily involved, starting with Ange Chibozo, called up to Benin’s senior squad.
In addition to Miretti, Gabriele Mulazzi and Riccardo Turicchia are in line to present Italy Under 19.
The talent of the Under 19 squad has seen call ups for Tarik Muharemovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Felix Nzouango Bikien (France), Ervin Omic (Austria) and Zsombor Senko (Hungary).
UNDER 18
As for the Under 18, Italy has called on Hasa and Maressa, Belgium Mbangula, Sweden Rouhi, Norway Solberg and Holland Strijdonck.
UNDER 17
Slovakia have called upon the services of Vinarcik for the matches against Greece, Netherlands and Hungary between 24th-30th, and Netherlands likewise Huijsen for the same series of matches.
UNDER 16
Two Bianconeri youngsters, Pagnucco and Ventre, are part of the Italy Under 16 squad for the double header with Germany on 26th and 29th.
