Football fans worldwide will stay glued to their TV screens this November as their national teams compete against one another for the honor of being the 2022 Qatar World Cup champions.
Unfortunately for Italian football fans everywhere, Italy failed to qualify for their second consecutive World Cup. Even though the Azzurri won’t be participating in the tournament, there’s still plenty of reasons for Serie A fans to tune in.
Even with Italy’s absence from the World Cup, Serie A will still be well represented when things kick-off in Qatar. Many of the league’s brightest talents have been included in their national team roster, and Roma is no exception.
So as you and friends gather and engage in some World Cup betting 2022, let’s take a look at a few of the Giallorossi’s notable players who will feature for their respective nations.
Roma Players in the Qatar World Cup
Like most of Serie A’s top clubs, Roma will be well represented when the action in Qatar kicks off this weekend. Here are just a few of the players Giallorossi supporters will have their eyes on throughout the tournament.
Nicola Zalewski
Talented Roma youngster Nicola Zalewski capped off a meteoric rise that began earlier this year by clinching a place in Poland’s World Cup squad.
The Italy born wide-man has emerged as one of Roma’s key pieces since he became a first team regular under Jose Mourinho starting in early February of last season. He emerged as the Special One’s go-to option on the left flank following Leonardo Spinazzola’s injury, overtaking Matias Vina in the pecking order.
Zalewski made his first senior start in February versus Spezia and hasn’t looked back, featuring regularly for the Giallorossi ever since.
There was much speculation surrounding his international career given he was born to Polish parents in Tivoli: making him eligible to play for either Poland or Italy.
Though, he ultimately chose to represent Czesław Michniewicz’s side where he’s also become a pivotal figure.
Paulo Dybala
It was a major question mark if Argentina manager Luis Scaloni would include Paulo Dybala in his World Cup squad after the attacker sustained a quadriceps injury in October.
After much anticipation, Scaloni selected the ex-Juventus man despite uncertainty regarding whether or not he’d be fit in time to participate in the tournament.
Originally expected to miss up to eight weeks, La Joya put those fears to rest when he made his return to the pitch last Sunday late in the Giallorossi’s 1-1 draw against Torino.
Coming on the 70th minute, Dybala made an instant impact and helped Jose Mourinho’s side find a last-second goal to earn a point.
Rui Patricio
In what will likely be his final World Cup, Roma’s veteran shot-stopper Rui Patricio was once again selected by Portugal.
The 34 year-old is one of several key veterans that manager Fernando Santos will be counting on along with Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe, Danilo Pereira, Bruno Fernandes, and Bernardo Silva.
He recently surpassed 100 caps with Portugal and has the chance to win his second major trophy of year after he captured the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League title with Roma in May.
This Qatar World Cup promises to be very exciting. Even though Azzurri fans won’t be able to see their national team on display, they’ll still have the chance to watch some of Serie A’s best battling it out, hoping to be crowned champions.
