New Delhi: Italy are set to take on Israel tomorrow in their UEFA Nations League fixture but will be without two players who made the starting XI in their triumph against France on Friday. Two of their top stars suffered minor injuries in the game against France following which they were sent back to their clubs and therefore won’t participate in the game in Hungary.
The players in question are Arsenal’s new signing Riccardo Calafiori and AS Roma’s star midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini. Both Pellegrini and Calafiori had a great game against France but their night turned a bit sour after both of them suffered injuries at different points during the game. Pellegrini was the first to get injured between the two and had to be substituted at half-time.
He reported a problem with his flexor muscles to the medical staff of the French national team at half-time and was replaced by Giacomo Raspadori, who went on to score the third and the final goal for Italy putting the result beyond any doubt. While Raspadori did score on the night, he will have to face competition to be named in Luciano Spalletti’s starting XI for the game against Israel.
🚨Riccardo Calafiori has LEFT the Italy camp in Budapest ahead of Israel match set tomorrow. No risks taken between FIGC & Arsenal following the incident injury vs France❌ @SkySport
Lorenzo Pellegrini underwent MRI’s & has a muscle issue. He’s also OUT vs Israel❌@cmdotcom pic.twitter.com/lrmGnhOPtW
— AzzurriXtra🇮🇹 (@XtraAzzurri) September 8, 2024
Calafiori suffered a freak moment which contributed to his injury. After Destiny Udogie won the ball off Ousmane Dembele with a clean sliding tackle, the PSG winger well spiralling to the ground and before he hit the ground, his leg caught Calafiori, who had his back towards Dembele, on his heel. This moment led to the Arsenal man being unable to continue the game and had to be replaced by Napoli defender Alessandro Buongiorno.
It will be a huge loss for the Azzurri to be without their star defender after he put in a commanding performance against France but this might be an opportunity for someone to shine in defence. The obvious replacement is Buongiorno as he’s the only left-footed defender available but there could be a chance for Caleb Okoli to make his debut for the national team who despite being right-footed played as the left centre-back for most of last season.
Pellegrini, who played behind the striker in the game against France, could be replaced by Raspadori again but given that Israel, with all due respect, are a weaker opposition than Les Blues this could be the perfect opportunity to hand Atalanta’s attacking midfielder Marco Brescianini his first start for the Azzurri. He’s been in great form for Atalanta scoring twice in three games for the club and could solve Italy’s goalscoring woes.
Italy take on Israel in their UEFA Nations League Group A2 fixture in Budapest, Hungary but will have to do so in the absence of two of their top stars who have left the national team camp. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
