Bergamo: Gattuso Excludes Cambiaso from Playoff Squad
bergamo — Gennaro Gattuso has left Andrea Cambiaso out of the Italy squad for the World Cup playoff match scheduled at 20: 45 ET today, meaning the Juventus fullback will not even occupy a bench spot. The omission is not injury-related: Cambiaso will sit in the stands alongside Caprile, Coppola and Cambiaghi. The decision closes the list of names that will chase a first-leg advantage in the home tie.
Key exclusion and the confirmed squad
The most striking selection note is Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus) being omitted from the matchday group by Gennaro Gattuso, Italy coach. Club affiliations are listed with the squad: goalkeepers Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta) and Alex Meret (Napoli); defenders Alessandro Palestra (Cagliari), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Leonardo Spinazzola (Napoli), Giovanni Buongiorno (Napoli), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Gleison Bremer Gatti (Juventus), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter) and Gianluca Mancini (Roma); midfielders Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United), Riccardo Pisilli (Roma), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Davide Frattesi (Inter) and Nicolò Barella (Inter); forwards Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah), Giacomo Raspadori (Atalanta), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Sebastiano Esposito (Inter) and Matteo Politano (Napoli).
Bergamo starting XI, match mood and immediate reactions
Italy will line up in a 3-5-2 with a confirmed XI that places Alessandro Bastoni in the starting three despite a lingering tibia problem, and fields the attacking pair of Moise Kean and Mateo Retegui up front. The selection names Donnarumma in goal with Mancini, Bastoni and Calafiori in the back three; Politano, Tonali, Locatelli, Barella and Dimarco across midfield; Kean and Retegui leading the line.
Gennaro Gattuso framed the night in blunt, urgent terms: “The best thing is not to talk about fear. We talk about positivity. Everyone must give 150%. ” He pressed the psychological edge, calling for the players to feel the necessary pre-match intensity and to be dominant on the field.
Matchday atmosphere in bergamo is charged but orderly: a reported group of visiting supporters animated the city earlier, and organisers arranged a large blue-themed choreography with 23, 000 scarves for home fans. In a solemn prelude, a minute of silence will be observed in memory of Giuseppe Savoldi, who passed away today in Bergamo.
What happens next
With this selection closed and the starting XI named, attention shifts to the kickoff at 20: 45 ET and to next week’s return leg if Italy secures a positive result. Gattuso’s choices — most notably the omission of Cambiaso and the decision to start Bastoni — will be evaluated immediately on the pitch and in post-match remarks by the coach and team staff. Expect a rapid assessment of fitness and tactics after the final whistle, with the squad preparing for the next fixture should progression be earned.
