MILAN: AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Torino forward Andrea Belotti were handed maiden call-ups for Italy, after being named in Giampiero Ventura's 26-man squad for next week's friendly with France.
Ventura, who succeeded new Chelsea coach Antonio Conte following the Azzurri's quarter-final exit from Euro 2016, also notably called up Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti following his recovery from a hernia operation.
The former Torino coach also handed first call-ups to AC Milan defender Alessio Romagnoli as well as Genoa striker Luca Pavoletti.
Ventura, 68, will take charge of his first Italy game in the southern town of Bari on Thursday hoping the Azzurri can take up where they left off following a hugely promising European Championship in France.
Italy upset pre-tournament predictions to send holders Spain crashing out in the last 16, only to fall to Germany in the quarter-finals after a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
France will also be looking for a positive outcome in what will be their first international outing since their shock Euro 2016 final defeat to Portugal.
However Ventura and France counterpart Didier Deschamps are both expected to use the outing to gauge fitness and form ahead of next month's upcoming World Cup 2018 qualifiers.
With Gianluigi Buffon, 38, having had a sterling Euros campaign, it is uncertain if the 17-year-old Donnarumma, or his fellow squad debutants, will be given a run out.
Italy's opening qualifier is away to Israel on September 5, while France are away to Belarus a day later.
Italy squad for France friendly and World Cup 2018 qualifier v Israel:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan), Federico Marchetti (Lazio)
Defenders: Luca Antonelli (AC Milan), Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan), Angelo Ogbonna (West Ham United/ENG), Alessio Romagnoli (AC Milan), Daniele Rugani (Juventus)
Midfielders: Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Giacomo Bonaventura (AC Milan), Antonio Candreva (Inter Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (AC Milan), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA)
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Eder Citadin Martins (Inter Milan), Manolo Gabbiadini (Napoli), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Leonardo Pavoletti (Genoa), Graziano Pelle (Shandong Luneng/CHN)
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