Domenico Criscito claims he should be called up to the Italy squad if Andrea Barzagli is ruled out of Euro 2012 with injury. “I was made a promise.”
Domenico Criscito claims he should be called up to the Italy squad if Andrea Barzagli is ruled out of Euro 2012 with injury. “I was made a promise.”
The Zenit St Petersburg left-back was omitted from the 23-man party after he was placed under investigation as part of the match fixing probe.
Nevertheless, the former Genoa player is adamant that he could be reintroduced should Italy opt to replace the Juventus” data-scaytid=”5″>Juventus stopper in the squad because of his fitness issues.
“I’m still training,” Criscito told the Gazzetta dello Sport.
“When Coach Cesare Prandelli told me that I would be omitted from the squad, he added that he would call me up if anyone had to leave the squad because of injury.
“He said that it didn’t matter in what role they played in, even if they were an attacker, then I would be called up. Demetrio Albertini was there too.”
Italian Football Federation Vice-President Albertini, however, has denied that account of events.
The Azzurri medics will make a decision on what to do with Barzagli on Friday given that he could be sidelined for 20 days – thus being unavailable for all the group games.
Reports in Italy are suggesting that Prandelli has put Cagliari defender Davide Astori on stand-by should Barzagli need replacing.