Italy's injured list expands as Insigne leaves squad BOLOGNA, Italy (AP) — Key forward Lorenzo Insigne has left Italy's squad with a muscular problem ahead of European Championship qualifiers against Armenia and Finland. Defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Mattia De Sciglio, as well as midfielder Bryan Cristante, have also been ruled out due to injury. Insigne was injured while playing for Napoli in a 4-3 loss to Juventus on Saturday but still reported to the Azzurri training camp on Monday. Insigne will be replaced by Freiburg winger Vincenzo Grifo. Francesco Acerbi, Danilo D'Ambrosio and Sandro Tonali were called in for Chiellini, De Sciglio and Cristante, respectively.
Probable Italy XI for Armenia By Football Italia staff Italy are expected to start Federico Chiesa, Andrea Belotti and Federico Bernardeschi, with Alessio Romagnoli in defence, but the doubt against Armenia is in midfield. The Euro 2020 qualifier kicks off in Yereven on Thursday at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT). Coach Roberto Mancini has been forced to reshuffle after losing several players to injury, including Giorgio Chiellini, Lorenzo Insigne, Leonardo Spinazzola, Bryan Cristante and Mattia De Sciglio, while Moise Kean and Nicolò Zaniolo are dropped to the Under-21 squad as punishment for tardiness. Milan centre-back Romagnoli already played with Leonardo Bonucci for a year at Milan, so is the natural choice to step in for Chiellini. Emerson Palmieri’s good form for Chelsea should see him play at left-back, with Alessandro Florenzi on the right. Belotti is favourite ahead of Ciro Immobile to lead the attack, because Torino have already played several competitive games with an early start in the Europa League qualifiers. He’ll likely be flanked by Chiesa and Bernardeschi, even if the Juventus man has struggled for playing time lately. Mancini said in his Press conference that he had chosen 10 of the starting XI, with “one doubt” remaining. It’s widely believed that is Stefano Sensi, whose excellent performances for Inter make him likely to push new Nerazzurri teammate Nicolò Barella on to the bench here as well. Chelsea’s Jorginho and PSG star Marco Verratti complete the line-up. Italy (4-3-3): G Donnarumma; Florenzi, Romagnoli, Bonucci, Emerson; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Bernardeschi, Belotti, Chiesa
still a solid line up good news for the italo-canadians on the board... TSN 1 is showing the game. Looks like they are finally going to start showing the euro qualifiers.
Florenzi at RB though... This is an OK lineup that has carried us thus far, but I feel like it's going to run into a wall at some point. I would start Sensi over Jorginho here
yea i agree.. i would go with D'Ambrosio ahead of him at RB. I would start Sensi too... except ahead of Barella with Jorginho and Verratti solely based off form to start the season.
Thank God.. I was sick of getting the feed from England and hearing the commentators talk crap about Italy.
I've been saying that for a while now. Florenzi is terrible at RB. To be honest, outside of multiple injuries, he should never get selected again for the national team. I would certainly start D' Ambrosio over him. And like you, I would play Sensi over Jorginho...not Barella.
Half. Italy can be playing better if the shape is changed. I always said that Jorginho on the field is one pass too many. Verratti has been very good, but the yellow was a stupid one to take. Berna and Chiesa have not been sharp at all. I would switch Jorg for Pellegrini. Put Verratti in the center and Pellegrini mezzala. Or keep Verratti where he is, and insert Sensi. Switch SES for Chiesa
Why is Bonucci launching these terrible balls? We have marco and Jorghino on the field plus Emerson is having himself a great game. No need to make silly speculative passes.
Give Armenia a ton of credit. They're fighting hard and their manager made the right adjustments being down to 10 men.