November 16, (THEWILL) – The Italian national team has been dealt a blow ahead of their final Euro 2024 qualifiers, with defender Alessandro Bastoni forced to withdraw through injury. The Inter Milan star is suffering from a calf strain, the Italian Football Federation confirmed on Thursday.
Bastoni joins AC Milan’s Davide Calabria and Atalanta’s Rafael Toloi on the sidelines, further depleting coach Luciano Spalletti’s defensive options. Spalletti has called up Roma’s Gianluca Mancini as a replacement for Bastoni.
There was also bad news for backup goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who is slightly ill. This resulted in a first call-up for uncapped Atalanta shot-stopper, Marco Carnesecchi.
The Italians face North Macedonia in Rome on Friday, before travelling to Germany to take on Ukraine on Monday. Four points from those two games will guarantee qualification for Euro 2024 as group runners-up behind already-qualified England.
Reigning European champions Italy will be hoping their depleted defence can hold firm for these decisive qualifiers. With Bastoni out, Spalletti will be keeping his fingersk crossed that no other key players pick up injuries.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
