Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne have both left the Italy camp ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Lithuania, while Nicolò Zaniolo is also in doubt.
It kicks off on Wednesday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT) at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio-Emilia.
It has been announced that Insigne and Immobile have both been released early from international duty.
Napoli captain Insigne was given permission due to personal reasons, while Lazio forward Immobile was ruled out by a muscular injury.
It is bad news for coach Roberto Mancini, especially as Zaniolo also skipped today’s training session after a bruise to the thigh and is in doubt to feature tomorrow.
Marco Verratti and Lorenzo Pellegrini had left the training camp yesterday with minor injuries.
Italy were held to back-to-back draws in the World Cup qualifying group, 1-1 by Bulgaria and 0-0 in Switzerland.
We could now see Giacomo Raspadori get his first senior Italy start at the centre of the trident attack, flanked by Juventus pair Federico Chiesa and Federico Bernardeschi.
Matteo Pessina should step in for Nicolò Barella and Stefano Sensi allow Jorginho some rest.
Davide Calabria could be thrown straight in at right-back, with Cristiano Biraghi on the left.
Probable line-up
Italy (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Calabria, Acerbi, Bastoni, Biraghi; Pessina, Sensi, Locatelli; Chiesa, Raspadori, Bernardeschi
Hard at work 😤#ITALIT #WCQ #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/6GbXWAJnKc
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) September 7, 2021
I expect minimum of 3 goals from Italy. Fonza milan
I expect Raspadori to be motivated enough to want to make a big impression on Mancini. One chance……back of the net!!! Somebody’s got to want Immobile’s job!!
They have important games coming up Milan vs Lazio and Napoli vs Juve. I don’t think they are injured.
Too many changes all at once.
They need to win and hope Northern Ireland do us a favor.
Need to also go for goals in case the Group comes down to Tie Breakers.
Yep I’m in agreement here the skies don’t look good at all. They shouldn’t have pushed it during the euros. It could be down to the wire or worse if they lose tonight it will be all over in real terms. Only one team i can think of that have won back to back euro and world cups and they weren’t that great. Too many injuries and a rough group, shame they didn’t get a bunch of part timers like Andorra, with a 4-0 win under the belt. To me looks like their going out again >
Completely disagree Alex Kerrington. We will do well again