Manuel Locatelli could replace Marco Verratti against Switzerland as the PSG star took a knock to his knee against Bulgaria.
On Thursday, the Azzurri picked up a 1-1 draw in their first game as European champions at Florence’s Artemio Franchi Stadium. Roberto Mancini’s side face Switzerland in Basel tomorrow.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Corriere dello Sport, Verratti could be ruled out of the game with a knee injury.
Il totem Chiellini più Di Lorenzo, il c.t. prepara un’Italia mobile https://t.co/J3nQA4Bgct
— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) September 4, 2021
The former Pescara man took a knock to his knee against Bulgaria and the Azzurri’s medical staff will assess his physical condition today.
If Verratti is forced to miss the game, Manuel Locatelli will replace him.
This past June, the new Juventus midfielder scored a brace against Switzerland during the UEFA Euro 2020 group stage. He had started the opening two games of the competition to replace Verratti, who was injured when the Euros began.
Italy are the Group C leaders with 10 points after four World Cup qualifying games. They are followed by the Swiss, who have six points, but two games in hand.
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Verratti is my favourite player. That said, I believe that only one from Verratti and Jorginho should be picked because they have very similar characteristics. Locatelli porvides the engine room with different qualities, offering greater physicality and mobility, and more of a direct, attacking threat. IMO, we looked a far more threatening side with him in the team. Some have cited Spinazzola’s absence in the latter stages of the Euro’s for the drop off in our attacking impetus. I agree with this but would also add the same sentiment when it comes to Locatelli.
Locatelli would do a better job IMHO
I am kind of happy about this… He slows the play down…love Locatelli’s box to box style… We also have Pellegrini, Sensi and Pessina… plenty of options…
A blessing in disguise, otherwise Mancini will always select him ahead of the other midfielders. He’s too similar to Jorginho and does not pose a goalscoring threat like Locatelli, Pellegrini, Pessina and Sensi. He is also prone to accumulating a lot of yellow cards and keeps you on edge every game he gets a yellow.