Milan, 29 May (LaPresse/AP) – Italy Under-21 striker Cristian Volpato has decided to switch international allegiance and represent Australia at the World Cup, four years after turning down a call-up for the 2022 tournament. Football Australia announced on Friday that Volpato, who was born in Sydney, has been added to the Socceroos’ training camp in Los Angeles, pending the finalisation of the squad by Monday. The 22-year-old Sassuolo player is eligible to change his sporting nationality under FIFA rules, having never played an official match for the Italian senior national team. Football Australia stated that it had “received a letter of authorisation from the Italian Football Federation” (FIFA), a crucial step in FIFA’s approval of the change of nationality. Australia will make their World Cup debut against Turkey on 13 June in Vancouver, face the United States six days later in Seattle, and conclude Group D against Paraguay on 25 June at the San Francisco 49ers’ stadium. The top two teams advance to the round of 16, whilst the third-placed team may also qualify.
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