Coach Cesare Prandelli has just released the extended list of 30 players (actually 31, with Mirante as fourth keeper)  from which the 23-men World Cup squad will be selected on the 3rd of June.

The full list is the following:

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Perin (Genoa), Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain), *Mirante (Parma);
Defenders: Abate (Milan), Barzagli (Juventus), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Darmian (Torino), De Sciglio (Milan), Maggio (Napoli), Paletta (Parma), Pasqual (Fiorentina), Ranocchia (Inter);
Midfielders: Aquilani (Fiorentina), Candreva (Lazio), De Rossi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Milan), Motta (Paris Saint Germain), Parolo (Parma), Pirlo (Juventus), Romulo (Verona), Verratti (Paris Saint Germain);
Forwards: Balotelli (Milan), Cassano (Parma), Cerci (Torino), Destro (Roma), Immobile (Torino), Insigne (Napoli), Rossi (Fiorentina).

The first consideration is that Prandelli was very receptive in terms of the indications of this year’s Serie A: two players from Verona, three from Torino and Parma, teams that overperformed in the league, and that don’t usually supply so many players to the Azzurri. The second is that those players who decided to leave Serie A to join less competitive leagues - Diamanti and Criscito - paid the consequences of such a decision.

Out of the 31, however, eight will not live the full dream. Prandelli decided to take his time, in order to evaluate those players that for one reason or another do not fully convince the “CT”. 

Abundance problems up-front. Seven names, but only one player who can be 100% sure of his spot: Mario Balotelli. Every other player will have to give it his best in the next couple of weeks.

Pepito Rossi would have been sure of a spot, hadn’t he suffered an extremely serious injury that kept him out for most of the second half of the season. Insigne is the kind of player that can change the face of the team in the last 15 minutes, and has recently started scoring at a fairly decent rate (even though his total score for the season is a mere 6 goals in 30 games). Immobile is the top-scorer in Serie A, and with Alessio Cerci in Torino they form the most prolific duo in Italy. Destro has the best scoring rate in Serie A with one goal basically every 90 minutes played (13 in 20 games). Finally there is Cassano, probably the most talented of all, but also the most unpredictable in terms of off-court and on-court behavior. Having made this list can already be considered an achievement for him, given that Prandelli had lost faith in him after Euro 2012. His main motivation is that he never played in the World Cup, and it would probably be his first and last.

Rumors say that Prandelli will evaluate Rossi, and should he not make it he will pick Cassano instead. However, the two players have different characteristics: more of a scorer the first, more of an assist man the second. In fact, Fantantonio might be the only player with the vision and precision to serve enlightened through balls to the strikers. In the end, Insigne will be left out. 

Final list prediction: Balotelli, Destro, Immobile, Cerci, Rossi, Cassano 

In the middle. Pirlo is the technical leader of the team, De Rossi and Thiago Motta have the international experience needed in such a competition, whilst Verratti is the rising star that needs to gain such experience alongside his role-model Pirlo. No matter how many games he plays, the sole participation to the competition represents an investment for the future of the national team. Marchisio, Candreva and Montolivo will complete the lot, whilst Parolo will almost certainly go back home at the beginning of June. Aquilani’s fate will depend on how many midfielders Prandelli will choose to pick. If he picks seven, Aquilani will be the first off the list.

Final list prediction: Candreva, De Rossi, Marchisio, Montolivo, Pirlo, Thiago Motta, Verratti  

Black and white wall. Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli and Paletta - especially after his excellent perfomance against Spain - represent the core of the Azzurri central defensive unit. The first three play together for Juve, and have shown great solidity in Serie A (only 23 goals conceded, best defense in Italy).
On the flanks Abate shouldn’t be able to make it, considering his season and his overall quality. The reason why he’s in the 30 is that there probably aren’t two better alternatives in Italy right now. Abate’s fate depends on Maggio’s physical conditions: he spent the last two months out, and just came back last Sunday against Sampdoria. Instead Mattia De Sciglio should go to Brazil, because he’s better than Abate and for the same reason as Verratti: to gain invaluable experience for the next competitions. On the left Pasqual is the only real option, while Darmian won’t make the squad. Prandelli will move Chiellini to the flank if necessary. In this case Ranocchia could be a valuable alternative in the middle, also considering that he can play both with a three and a four men rearguard. 

Final list prediction: Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, De Sciglio, Maggio, Paletta, Pasqual, Ranocchia 

Between the posts. Buffon is the captain and leader of the team; Sirigu (best goalkeeper in France’s Ligue 1) is the only realistic alternative, whilst Perin will have free tickets to watch the World Cup from the sideline. I would definitely take him rather than Mirante, even though the latter is more “ready”. The third gk never plays, and Perin will more likely be present in the future of the Azzurri team.  

Final list prediction: Buffon, Perin, Sirigu

So, the 8 players excluded from the 31 squad will be: Mirante, Abate, Darmian, Aquilani, Parolo, Romulo, Insigne

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