Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa was recalled to the Italy fold on Friday as coach Gennaro Gattuso named his 28-man squad for next Thursday's World Cup playoff semifinal against Northern Ireland in Bergamo.
    The 28-year-old, a key member of the Azzurri's Euro 2020-winning team, has not played for the national team since Euro 2024.
    He struggled to get playing time under coach Arne Slot last season but has featured more frequently this term.
    Gattuso also gave 21-year-old Cagliari defender Marco Palestra his first Italy call-up.
    If Italy beat Northern Ireland they will face the winner of the other semi-final between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31 away from home.
    If they lose, they will have to play a friendly against the other defeated semi-finalist.
    Italy have missed the last two World Cups after failing to qualify directly from the group stage and being ejected in the subsequent playoffs.
    Italy squad: Goalkeepers: Elia Caprile (Cagliari), Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Alex Meret (Napoli); Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Diego Coppola (Paris FC), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Marco Palestra (Cagliari), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Leonardo Spinazzola (Napoli); Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle); Forwards: Federico Chiesa (Liverpool), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Atalanta), Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta).

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