Italy Faces Squad Setbacks Ahead of World Cup Play-offs

Italy's national team manager, Gennaro Gattuso, will have a depleted squad to select from for the upcoming, critical World Cup play-offs. The Azzurri are scheduled to first face Northern Ireland, with the victor then potentially playing against Bosnia or Wales to secure a spot.

There is positive news regarding Sandro Tonali, who recently withdrew from a match against Barcelona due to a groin issue. His injury is minor, and he is expected to recover in time for the crucial fixtures.

However, several key players are unavailable. Marco Verratti, initially pre-selected, is out after undergoing knee surgery. Mattia Zaccagni will be sidelined for approximately a month due to a thigh muscle strain sustained during the recent Milan clash. Furthermore, Antonio Vergara, who was anticipating his first senior call-up, will miss out due to a plantar fascia strain.

Gattuso remains optimistic that Alessandro Bastoni and Moise Kean will avoid further injuries in their upcoming club matches, having recently dealt with minor knocks. Conversely, Giacomo Raspadori has already made his return from a thigh strain in a recent match against Bayern Munich.

Verratti's absence and the uncertainty surrounding Tonali's fitness have increased the chances for Davide Frattesi and Niccolò Pisilli to earn a spot in the squad. For a wing position, Matteo Politano appears to be favored over Federico Chiesa (who has seen limited playing time), Nicolò Zaniolo, and Domenico Berardi, thanks to his versatility and established rapport with the team. Federico Bernardeschi, Riccardo Orsolini, and Daniel Maldini are also competing for one or two wide roles. In defense, Giorgio Scalvini and Diego Coppola are expected to complete the backline, while Francesco Pio Esposito and Gianluca Scamacca will provide additional attacking depth.