Mattia Destro is seen as almost certain to miss next week’s tests with the Italy squad, but could be handed a final chance in May.
Mattia Destro is seen as almost certain to miss next week’s tests with the Italy squad, but could be handed a final chance in May.
The Roma striker is set to fall foul of Cesare Prandelli’s ‘code of ethics’ with the national team and miss out on the Italy call-up for April 14 and 15, for being handed a three-game suspension for punching Davide Astori at the weekend.
Combined with a further one-game suspension for accumulated yellow cards, the 23-year-old is seen as at risk of falling out of complete contention for the summer tournament, if Roma are unsuccessful in their appeal, as Destro’s ban will only allow him to return on May 9 against Juventus, four days before Prandelli is expected to announce his 30-man provisional squad for Brazil.
Next week’s anticipated 35-man selection of players is seen as key to the CT’s decision as it will put those picked through two days of physical tests to formulate individual training programmes, in line for prospective involvement at the World Cup.
However, reports today are that Destro may be handed a second chance to undergo such tests, come early May, when the foreign-based squad members like Marco Verratti, Thiago Motta, Salvatore Sirigu and Emanuele Giaccherini are seen as set for their physical tests at Coverciano.
Meanwhile, speculation is that next week’s squad will not include Francesco Totti or Luca Toni, but will list Antonio Cassano and Simone Scuffet.