24 March 2015
The 13 Bianconeri first-team members involved over the upcoming international break will also be joined by several of the club’s players either gaining experience elsewhere or playing for the youth academy.
Four have been selected in Luigi Di Biagio’s squad for the Under-21 friendlies against Germany and Serbia. These are goalkeeper Nicola Leali (on loan at Cesena), striker Domenico Berardi (on a co-ownership deal with Sassuolo) and defenders Daniele Rugani and Edoardo Goldaniga, on loan at Empoli and Perugia respectively.
Staying with Italy, the Under-20 squad features Simone Emmanuello (co-owned by Atalanta and currently playing at Pro Vercelli) and Valerio Rosseti, on a loan deal with the Bergamo-based outfit. Their international calendar sees them take on Switzerland in a Four Nations’ double header, with the first leg to be played on Thursday in Lecco ahead of next Tuesday’s return tie in Lugano.
A fascinating friendly, and a repeat of last summer’s World Cup’s last 16 clash, pits Chile against Brazil at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Joining Arturo Vidal in the squad is Mauricio Isla, who is currently on loan at Premier League side Queens Park Rangers. La Roja’s first test, however, comes three days earlier, when they travel to face Iran in Austria.
Also playing in Europe are Australia, represented by midfielder James Troisi, now plying his trade with Zulte Waregem. The Socceroos take on Germany in Kaiserslauten on Wednesday night and Macedonia next Monday in Skopje.
Icelandic defender Hordur Magnusson, out gaining Serie A experience with Cesena, will be involved in his country’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Kazakhstan on Saturday 28 March in Astana. Three days later, Magnusson will be travelling to Tallinn, where Estonia await as friendly opposition.
Called up to the Romania Under-21s is Laurentiu Branescu, who currently plays his club football for Hungarian club Szombathely. The goalkeeper will be sharpening his reflexes for his nation’s two friendly encounters with Iceland and Cyprus, both to be played in Targu Mures on Thursday 26 and Tuesday 31 March respectively.
Danish central defender Frederik Sorensen has departed Verona, where he plays for Hellas, to link up with his Under-21 colleagues for a friendly against Portugal (in Marinha Grande).
The Greek Under-19s have called on Anastasios Donis (on loan at Sassuolo) and Primavera midfielder Almpertos Roussos for a double header against Ukraine to be played on 28 and 30 March.
And Roussos is not the only Primavera player among Fabio Grosso’s ranks to receive a call from his country. Grygoris Kastanos will be heading off with Cyprus’ senior squad for a Euro 2016 qualifier against Belgium,* while Vajebah Sakor* is representing Norway’s Under-19s in three Elite Round qualifying games with Switzerland, Holland and Serbia.
