Just a general thread about the pool of players at Prandelli's disposal. It is a short list, and only a short list of the players who I think have a chance to go. Even those who maybe have yet to feature under Prandelli, but also because they have been playing better in the 2nd half of the season.
Goalkeepers (3 to be selected)
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli)
Salvatore Sirigu (P.S.G)
Emiliano Viviano (Palermo)
In the GK department, I think Marchetti has also had a wonderful season with Lazio and Abbiati has been really good for Milan, but it looks Prandelli's mind has been made up already with the above 4 choices and that 3 of those will be going.
Full-Backs (4 to be selected)
Ignazio Abate (AC Milan)
Federico Balzaretti (Palermo)
Mattia Cassani (Fiorentina)
Domenico Criscito (Zenit St Petersburg)
Paolo De Ceglie (Juventus)
Christian Maggio (Napoli)
Can't see any more other than this getting the call. De Ceglie, despite never getting a call from Prandelli has been one of the more consistent at FB in the 2nd part of the season and certainly has been no worse than anyone else. His problem is that not being called means Prandelli may not trust him. Abate and Cassani will fight for the 2nd RB spot and right now its likey to go to Abate with Cassani not in the best form.
Central Defenders (4 to be selected)
Davide Astori (Cagliari)
Andrea Barzagli (Juventus)
Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus)
Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)
Angelo Ogbonna (Torino)
Andrea Ranocchia (Inter)
Matias Silvestre (Palermo)
For Silvestre, that would be if Prandelli feels he should make him Italian, but I see already the Juventus trio going to the Euros and either Ranocchia or Ogbonna following them. Despite his poor form, Ranocchia has always done reasonably well with Italy and so Prandelli could still trust him.
Midfielders (7 to be selected)
Alberto Aquilani (AC Milan)
Luca Cigarini (Atalanta)
Andrea Cossu (Cagliari)
Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma)
Claudio Marchisio (Juventus)
Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina)
Thiago Motta (P.S.G)
Antonio Nocerino (AC Milan)
Simone Pepe (Juventus)
Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)
Andrea Poli (Inter)
I think the 7 above are more or less already there, unless Pepe can produce a bit more form and convince Prandelli that he is needed as a wide option, which I really hope is not the case as Pepe promises alot, but delivers little. Cigarini, Cossu and Poli are just named in case of injuries really, the other 7 will be the ones going.
Forwards (5 to be selected)
Mario Balotelli (Man City)
Fabio Borini (AS Roma)
Antonio Cassano (AC Milan)
Antonio Di Natale (Udinese)
Alberto Gilardino (Genoa)
Sebastien Giovinco (Parma)
Alessandro Matri (Juventus)
Pablo Osvaldo (AS Roma)
Giampaolo Pazzini (Inter)
Fabio Quagliarella (Juventus)
Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal)
The longest and most difficult list of all. Was debating whether to add Quags and Gila on here, they are the 2 least likely to go anyway, but in case of a sudden break out of form from either then it is still possible given the injuries of Cassano and Rossi. I think if those 2 go, then he may leave Di Natale at home. Balotelli for me is a concrete choice despite his character and Giovinco is also someone who seems very likely to be on the plane. So it leaves a place for one of the Roma players , Osvaldo or Borini. There is no doubt Borini has the potential, but Osvaldo has proven he is in really hot form of late and so the 5 I think that could go are Osvaldo, Cassano, Rossi, Giovinco and Balotelli, with Borini the next in line.
My predicted Italy squad of Prandelli
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli)
Emiliano Viviano (Palermo)
Ignazio Abate (AC Milan)
Federico Balzaretti (Palermo)
Andrea Barzagli (Juventus)
Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus)
Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)
Domenico Criscito (Zenit St Petersburg)
Christian Maggio (Napoli)
Angelo Ogbonna (Torino)
Alberto Aquilani (AC Milan)
Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma)
Claudio Marchisio (Juventus)
Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina)
Thiago Motta (P.S.G)
Antonio Nocerino (AC Milan)
Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)
Mario Balotelli (Man City)
Antonio Cassano (AC Milan)
Sebastien Giovinco (Parma)
Pablo Osvaldo (AS Roma)
Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal)
Goalkeepers (3 to be selected)
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli)
Salvatore Sirigu (P.S.G)
Emiliano Viviano (Palermo)
In the GK department, I think Marchetti has also had a wonderful season with Lazio and Abbiati has been really good for Milan, but it looks Prandelli's mind has been made up already with the above 4 choices and that 3 of those will be going.
Full-Backs (4 to be selected)
Ignazio Abate (AC Milan)
Federico Balzaretti (Palermo)
Mattia Cassani (Fiorentina)
Domenico Criscito (Zenit St Petersburg)
Paolo De Ceglie (Juventus)
Christian Maggio (Napoli)
Can't see any more other than this getting the call. De Ceglie, despite never getting a call from Prandelli has been one of the more consistent at FB in the 2nd part of the season and certainly has been no worse than anyone else. His problem is that not being called means Prandelli may not trust him. Abate and Cassani will fight for the 2nd RB spot and right now its likey to go to Abate with Cassani not in the best form.
Central Defenders (4 to be selected)
Davide Astori (Cagliari)
Andrea Barzagli (Juventus)
Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus)
Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)
Angelo Ogbonna (Torino)
Andrea Ranocchia (Inter)
Matias Silvestre (Palermo)
For Silvestre, that would be if Prandelli feels he should make him Italian, but I see already the Juventus trio going to the Euros and either Ranocchia or Ogbonna following them. Despite his poor form, Ranocchia has always done reasonably well with Italy and so Prandelli could still trust him.
Midfielders (7 to be selected)
Alberto Aquilani (AC Milan)
Luca Cigarini (Atalanta)
Andrea Cossu (Cagliari)
Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma)
Claudio Marchisio (Juventus)
Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina)
Thiago Motta (P.S.G)
Antonio Nocerino (AC Milan)
Simone Pepe (Juventus)
Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)
Andrea Poli (Inter)
I think the 7 above are more or less already there, unless Pepe can produce a bit more form and convince Prandelli that he is needed as a wide option, which I really hope is not the case as Pepe promises alot, but delivers little. Cigarini, Cossu and Poli are just named in case of injuries really, the other 7 will be the ones going.
Forwards (5 to be selected)
Mario Balotelli (Man City)
Fabio Borini (AS Roma)
Antonio Cassano (AC Milan)
Antonio Di Natale (Udinese)
Alberto Gilardino (Genoa)
Sebastien Giovinco (Parma)
Alessandro Matri (Juventus)
Pablo Osvaldo (AS Roma)
Giampaolo Pazzini (Inter)
Fabio Quagliarella (Juventus)
Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal)
The longest and most difficult list of all. Was debating whether to add Quags and Gila on here, they are the 2 least likely to go anyway, but in case of a sudden break out of form from either then it is still possible given the injuries of Cassano and Rossi. I think if those 2 go, then he may leave Di Natale at home. Balotelli for me is a concrete choice despite his character and Giovinco is also someone who seems very likely to be on the plane. So it leaves a place for one of the Roma players , Osvaldo or Borini. There is no doubt Borini has the potential, but Osvaldo has proven he is in really hot form of late and so the 5 I think that could go are Osvaldo, Cassano, Rossi, Giovinco and Balotelli, with Borini the next in line.
My predicted Italy squad of Prandelli
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli)
Emiliano Viviano (Palermo)
Ignazio Abate (AC Milan)
Federico Balzaretti (Palermo)
Andrea Barzagli (Juventus)
Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus)
Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)
Domenico Criscito (Zenit St Petersburg)
Christian Maggio (Napoli)
Angelo Ogbonna (Torino)
Alberto Aquilani (AC Milan)
Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma)
Claudio Marchisio (Juventus)
Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina)
Thiago Motta (P.S.G)
Antonio Nocerino (AC Milan)
Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)
Mario Balotelli (Man City)
Antonio Cassano (AC Milan)
Sebastien Giovinco (Parma)
Pablo Osvaldo (AS Roma)
Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal)