Midfielders Nicolo Zaniolo and Lorenzo Pellegrini, both from Roma, are injured and will be out of Italy selection in the last two rounds of the European Qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, against Switzerland and Northern Ireland, said on Monday the Italian coach Roberto Mancini.
Also midfielder Nicolo Barella, from Inter Milan, with pain in the left thigh, it is doubtful.
“We will look into the situation in the next few days, but it doesn’t seem worrying,” Mancini said during a press conference in Coverciano (Florence), where the Italian national team’s training center is located.
The absences of Zaniolo (with an ankle problem) and Pellegrini (knee) are added to those of Marco Verratti and Rafael Toloi.
Check out this and other videos at
More videos at
videos.gazetaesportiva.com
To strengthen the group, Mancini called up midfielder Danilo Cataldi, 27 and from Lazio, who had already been called up in November 2016, but did not come into play.
The coach can call up Atalanta midfielder Matteo Pessina, who is recovered from an injury.
Italians and Swiss share the lead in Group C of the Qualifiers, tied with 14 points. However, the current European champions have better goal difference (+11 against +9).
The two teams face off on Friday in Rome. Then, the Italian team will face Northern Ireland, away from home, while Switzerland host Bulgaria, on 15 November.
Ricardo is a renowned author and journalist, known for his exceptional writing on top-news stories. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he is known for his ability to deliver breaking news and insightful analysis on the most pressing issues of the day.
