In-form Balotelli misses out on Italy squad for Germany, Liechtenstein tilts
Mario Balotelli may be enjoying a return to goal-scoring form for OGC Nice, but that wasn't enough to change Italy manager Giampiero Ventura's mind for the Azzurri's latest 28-man squad, set to take on Germany and Liechtenstein in the coming week.
Ventura earlier hinted that Balotelli could "have hope" of an Italy return after scoring six goals in five matches for Nice, but also seemed to rule him out, saying: "If we're talking about hope, then I also have hope that I will win the lottery."
Stephan El Shaarawy and Graziano Pelle were also left out of the team.
Instead, Ventura opted to select West Ham striker Simone Zaza, who has yet to score in the Premier League in seven appearances, while also giving a debut call to 27-year-old Genoa striker Leonardo Pavoletti.
Another newcomer on the list is Torino full-back Davide Zappacosta, with AS Roma's versatile Alessandro Florenzi ruled out due to a ruptured cruciate ligament.
Giorgio Chiellini remains out with a thigh injury too, but Juventus duo Leonardo Bonucci and Claudio Marchisio earned nods despite the former limping off with a thigh injury against Lyon earlier in the week, and the latter just returning from injury on Oct. 26 in a 4-1 win over Sampdoria.
Italy takes on Liechtenstein in World Cup qualifying on Nov. 12 before playing Germany in a friendly three days later. The full squad, below:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan), Mattia Perin (Genoa)
Defenders: Luca Antonelli (AC Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan), Alessio Romagnoli (AC Milan), Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Davide Zappacosta (Torino)
Midfielders: Danilo Cataldi (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain), Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Giacomo Bonaventura (AC Milan), Antonio Candreva (Inter Milan), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Matteo Politano (Sassuolo)
Forwards: Nicola Sansone (Villarreal), Andrea Belotti (Torino), Eder (Inter Milan), Manolo Gabbiadini (Napoli), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Leonardo Pavoletti (Genoa), Simone Zaza (West Ham)