Federico Chiesa gets unlikely World Cup lifeline despite Liverpool frustrations

The winger looks set to add to his 51 international caps following nearly two years of isolation from the international team. Italy plays Northern Ireland in a World Cup qualifier next week.

Federico Chiesa has been called up to the Italy squad for the World Cup play-offs

Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa has been called up to Italy’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers later this month.

The winger has not played for Italy since joining Liverpool, with his last appearance for the Azzurri coming at Euro 2024. Chiesa’s lack of game time at the club level in the last two years has impacted his role on the international stage, although head coach Gennaro Gattuso has always kept the door open for a possible return.

The former Juventus man was a regular for Italy after earning his international debut in 2018 and played a pivotal role in the team’s Euro 2020 triumph. He played all seven games and scored in knockout wins over Austria and Spain.

Despite starting just five matches all season for Liverpool, and just one in the Premier League, Chiesa has been called up by Gattuso alongside fellow Premier League stars Gianluigi Donnarumma, Riccardo Calafiori, and Sandro Tonali. However, Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario has been omitted.

Chiesa, who has earned 51 international caps, turned down the chance to play in last autumn’s Italy fixtures, with Gattuso claiming the 28-year-old wanted to feel “100 percent.”

“I must respect what the player tells me,” the Italy coach said in November. “I often talk to him. We have to respect the decisions and problems that each of us has.

Chiesa has endured a tough season at Liverpool(Image: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

“We know well what we tell each other, and I must respect what the player tells me. I can't say anything else.”

Italy plays Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semi-final in Bergamo next week. Chiesa could come up against club teammate Kieran Morrison, who earned his first senior international call-up this week, but Conor Bradley remains absent through injury.

The winner of that tie will face either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina to earn a place at next summer’s tournament in North America.

Italy has not qualified for the World Cup since 2014 and finished second behind Norway in qualifying.

Chiesa was a regular for Italy prior to his arrival at Liverpool(Image: Frank Augstein - Pool/Getty Images)

Italy squad in full

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: Nicolo Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Niccolo 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).