Good Italy news as three fully fit, but Bastoni and Scamacca doubts remain
Italy have the all-clear for Riccardo Calafiori, Matteo Politano and Gianluca Mancini against Northern Ireland, with important updates on Alessandro Bastoni and Gianluca Scamacca.
The play-off semi-final for a spot at the 2026 World Cup kicks off in Bergamo on Thursday at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).
Coach Gennaro Gattuso spoke in his pre-match press conference today and gave some crucial information on the injury situation within the squad.
Italy players get the all-clear
While Roma defender Mancini and Arsenal’s Calafiori arrived from club duty carrying knocks, Politano was spotted with a large bandage on his shin and did not fully participate in the first training session.
“Mancini, Politano and Calafiori are fine, there’s nothing wrong with them, and they are available,” confirmed Gattuso.
Question marks remain over just two players, namely Inter defender Bastoni and Atalanta centre-forward Scamacca.
“Bastoni did 30-35 per cent of the training with the team yesterday, he did a bit of the game between ranks, we’ll try him again tonight,” added Gattuso.
“Scamacca is a bit further behind, he’s doing some things, but the only players who need to be evaluated are Bastoni and Scamacca.”
It had been assumed that Atalanta striker Scamacca would be released back home, along with Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa, but he wants to be ready if Italy reach the final against either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31.
“At the start of the training camp, three, four or five of them could barely stand, but they held on. Scamacca didn’t want to go back home,” said the coach.