Italy coach Roberto Mancini confirms Manuel Locatelli could start against Switzerland tomorrow, while standing up for Ciro Immobile. ‘As a centre-forward, he is not, well, immobile…’
The World Cup qualifier kicks off at St. Jakob-Park in Basel on Sunday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
Marco Verratti is an injury doubt after sustaining a knock to the knee during Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Bulgaria, so Locatelli should step in, despite not starting a game yet this season for Juventus.
“Locatelli might not have 90 minutes in his legs, but can play 60-70 minutes at a high level, certainly,” Mancini told RAI Sport.
Roma midfielder Nicolò Zaniolo is also pushing to feature after recovering from two serious knee injuries in under a year.
“I think Zaniolo can be important tomorrow and in future. He has enormous quality, is young and needs to play, but he is someone who can make the difference.”
Immobile received yet more criticism after the 1-1 draw with Bulgaria, having also been pin-pointed during UEFA EURO 2020, for not being able to replicate his extraordinary Lazio form in the Azzurri jersey.
In trying to defend the striker, Mancini played on the name, which translates in English exactly the same as Italian.
“Immobile as a centre-forward is not, well, immobile… He moves around a lot, he runs and battles for the team. He’s just been a bit more unlucky at international level than when playing for Lazio, but that can happen. After all, there’s less pressure at club level.
“We still won the European Championship with him playing, you know. We’ll see how he’s doing in terms of fitness tomorrow morning and then decide, as we have a few different alternatives.”
Immobile has 15 goals in 53 senior caps for Italy, but none in his last five appearances.