Picking Italy's 2018 World Cup Squad After Latest International Games

With the 2018 FIFA World Cup drawing ever nearer, players will know that their every performance will be analysed with the tournament in mind, with each hoping to see their name on the final list submitted by their respective national teams before the competition gets underway in Russia next summer.

Having only taken control of Italy last summer, former Torino boss Gian Piero Ventura will know he must get his selections right if the Azzurri are to have any hope of lifting the trophy for the fifth time in their history.

Some players can be assured, health and fitness permitting, they will be part of the eventual 23-man squad, but there will be many others fighting until the last minute.

What follows is a look at how those choices break down, looking at each player who is likely to go and who among Italy's better-known names could be left at home.

The first name on the team sheet, Gigi Buffon will turn 40 in January, but he is also guaranteed to be named Italy captain if he is physically able to participate in what would be a record sixth World Cup for the Juventus goalkeeper.

He was the No. 1 choice in four of those previous editions, including the one in 2006 won by the Azzurri. With his career slowly winding down, it is apt that Buffon's final outings for his national team will be where it all began—his Italy debut coming in a 1998 World Cup play-off against Russia in Moscow.

As Buffon's time with Italy draws to a close, the Azzurri already seem to have the perfect successor with AC Milan star Gianluigi Donnarumma waiting patiently to replace his namesake.

The 18-year-old already has three caps to his name, looking calm, mature and confident—qualities that mark him out as another potential great.

Mattia Perin risks becoming the forgotten man for Italy, with his early brilliance outshone by the emergence of Donnarumma over the past two seasons, but the Genoa goalkeeper is an excellent prospect in his own right.

Having suffered two terrible knee injuries, the 24-year-old will hope to recover in time for Russia, but even if he does, he is unlikely to ever see the field given the calibre of the two men ahead of him.

While his two Juventus team-mates move into the autumn of their careers, there is no argument that Leonardo Bonucci is entering the peak of his.

When the Bianconeri first assembled their "BBC" backline, he was the faltering youngster between Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini, but the Viterbo native is unquestionably now the star man in this department.

Thanks to his diligent man-marking skills, excellent timing of tackles and aerial challenges, Bonucci ranks among the very best central defenders in the world, while his wonderful ability on the ball and intelligent distribution place him head and shoulders above his peers.

The grizzled veteran of the Italy defence, Chiellini remains the player opposing strikers dread lining up against. He has been slowed by injuries—and Barzagli could yet step in for him if he is struck down in the run-up to the World Cup—but he is the prototypical robust stopper that the Azzurri have always relied upon.

Slowly breaking Juve's dominance of the Italy backline, AC Milan's Alessio Romagnoli has been a rock whenever the Azzurri have called upon him. Smart on the ball, he is an intelligent defender who shows that the national team is in safe hands even as the Bianconeri trio move towards the sidelines.

If Romagnoli provides hope outside of Turin, Juventus seem confident that Daniele Rugani is the right man to replace Barzagli and Chiellini, with Italy boss Ventura seemingly sharing that opinion.

As his playing time at club level has increased, so too has the confidence of the Empoli youth product, looking comfortable every time he is called upon by coach Max Allegri.

With Ignazio Abate aging and struggling with injuries, AC Milan team-mate Mattia De Sciglio has emerged as a vital player for both club and country. He has become the captain of the Rossoneri, while his ability to play in either full-back role makes him a crucial factor allowing flexibility in the side.

While Jose Mourinho remains unconvinced by Matteo Darmian, Italy routinely deploy the Manchester United defender in their first-choice XI. Various reports—including this one from Gazzamercato (h/t Football Italia)—have linked him with a move to Inter Milan, but he is almost certain to be in Russia next summer.

Currently sidelined with an injury, Italy will be as eager as AS Roma to see Alessandro Florenzi return to action.

The 26-year-old has improved immensely as an orthodox full-back, while his ability to also play in central midfield or in a more advanced role will create space for an extra player in the final 23-man selection.

Having blossomed in the Atalanta youth system, Davide Zappacosta became a favourite of Ventura during their time together at Torino.

The 24-year-old joined the Granata in July 2015 and spent 12 months under the current Italy coach, but he is arguably now enjoying the best season of his career under new boss Sinisa Mihajlovic.

With three assists to his name, Zappacosta has been a reliable defender and also built a fine understanding with Toro striker Andrea Belotti, who is enjoying a remarkable campaign in his own right.

While the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba have all left Juventus, Claudio Marchisio remains and is simply an indispensable member of both the Bianconeri and Italy starting XIs.

Tactically astute, quick across the pitch and almost always in the right place, his passing continues to be a major factor in the success of both teams.

Finally trusted to be a major contributor to the Italy national team, Marco Verratti's passing and vision will be a central feature of the Azzurri approach in Russia.

The 24-year-old is slowly maturing and improving the disciplinary issues that blighted his early career, and he is now one of the best in his position anywhere on the continent.

Roberto Gagliardini has arguably been the revelation of the 2016/17 Serie A campaign, bursting onto the scene at Atalanta before moving on to Inter Milan during the January transfer window.

A dynamic do-it-all-type player, he appears to be unfazed by the step up in expectations, aptly making his Italy debut when he replaced Daniele De Rossi when the Roma man was injured against the Netherlands during the most recent international break.

Another player to have suffered an injury this term, Giacomo Bonaventura remains a vitally important member of a young AC Milan side, emerging as a real leader under coach Vincenzo Montella.

His deadly left foot is a wonderful source of goals and creativity, one that Ventura will hope he can bring to the international scene over the next 12 months.

In a rich vein of form for Napoli, Lorenzo Insigne put the world on notice with a wonderful performance away to Real Madrid, stunning the Bernabeu with a special goal that highlighted all his qualities.

With 12 more goals in Serie A and seven assists, he provides a link between midfield and attack in a way that few players can, while he is also capable of that moment of magic to open up a match. 

Overshadowed at Sassuolo by Simone Zaza and Domenico Berardi, Nicola Sansone has proven his quality after joining Villarreal.

Adapting well to La Liga, the 25-year-old has also moved from the wing into a role as a second striker, something he could well be asked to do for Italy. 

Arguably the brightest of all Italy’s prospects, Federico Bernardeschi has shone since Fiorentina stopped using him as a wing-back and instead deployed him in his natural role as a No. 10.

He has 13 goals and five assists this term, with his production finally matching the hype that has followed him for a number of years.

Failing to make an impact at his old club, Manolo Gabbiadini moved from Napoli to England, ensuring he did not make that mistake at his new club as he immediately made fans of the Premier League and Southampton pay attention.

With six goals in his first five appearances—including a brace against Manchester United—he has earned a place in the Italy squad.

Domenico Berardi divides opinion, but his ability on the pitch simply cannot be denied. It is difficult to imagine Ventura can keep him out of the group much longer, as the Sassuolo star is making his case loud and clear with seven goals and four assists this term.

While they are repeatedly referred to as "Joe Hart's Torino"—more on that in this previous post—the Granata live and die on the performances of Andrea Belotti.

The striker has been in incredible form, bagging 22 goals in 24 Serie A appearances this term, a streak he has carried over into his Italy play.

Despite still being relatively new to that level, the 23-year-old has scored three times in just six appearances for the Azzurri, and he will be crucial if they are to progress at this World Cup.

Having bounced around from Borussia Dortmund to Sevilla and then Torino, it seems Ciro Immobile has found a home at Lazio.

The 27-year-old has 17 league goals to his name this season and can either provide back-up for Belotti or thrive playing alongside the Granata star.

A bruising striker, Atalanta's Andrea Petagna has supplanted Zaza and Leonardo Pavoletti in the Azzurri setup. He has five goals to his name this term and made his international debut as a second-half substitute in the recent friendly with the Netherlands, but he will find earning more playing time extremely difficult.

Obviously given the depth of talent available to Ventura, some notable names will miss out on the trip to Russia.

One who could supplant one of the goalkeepers is Udinese's Alex Meret, currently on loan at SPAL in Serie B and a part of the squad for the recent matches with Albania and the Netherlands.

Atalanta's Leonardo Spinazzola might not be ready in time, but Barzagli will turn 37 the month before the tournament. Barring an injury to Chiellini, he could well find that the Azzurri have moved on from him over the next 12 months.

Another major name to be left behind could be De Rossi, the AS Roma veteran looking to have slowed significantly in recent weeks, with breakout star Gagliardini the perfect replacement.

Inter's Antonio Candreva and Lazio's Marco Parolo would provide experience, but Italy appear to be moving into a new era with younger players, with Napoli's Jorginho and Juve's Stefano Sturaro unable to find room.

In attack, Eder, Stephan El Shaarawy and Zaza have all suffered terrible drops in production, while Leonardo Pavoletti cannot find enough space at Napoli to warrant an international recall.