Italy’s defensive disaster deepened on Monday when Giorgio Scalvini was dominated out of the European Championship after he tore an ACL within the closing moments of Atalanta’s final match of the season.
Scalvini seemed to be in tears Sunday when he was taken off 5 minutes earlier than the top of Atalanta’s 3-2 loss to Fiorentina. Checks confirmed the centre-back had torn a ligament in his left knee. He had scored within the first half.
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The match, which happened per week after the top of the Serie A season, was rescheduled from March when former Fiorentina basic supervisor Joe Barone fell in poor health. Barone then died two days later.
The 20-year-old defender has been changed in Italy’s provisional squad by Juventus’ Federico Gatti, the Italian soccer federation introduced, with the Azzurri kicking off their title defence in lower than two weeks.
Gatti was already on standby after Inter defender — and Euro 2020 champion — Francesco Acerbi needed to pull out with a groin harm final week.
The 25-year-old Gatti, who made his debut in 2022, has performed thrice for Italy.
Scalvini was supposed to hitch the Italy squad on Monday, together with teammate Gianluca Scamacca.
Gatti will now head to the Italy coaching headquarters in Coverciano, close to Florence. He was alerted by Italy coach Luciano Spalletti to the likelihood he could possibly be wanted final Thursday — the day earlier than the remainder of the Azzurri squad met up at Coverciano — and had been engaged on his personal since then.
Scalvini has performed eight instances for Italy. The 36-year-old Acerbi has made 34 appearances for the Azzurri.
Three gamers will should be lower from the squad by Thursday. Euro 2024 begins in Germany on June 14.
Italy begins its title protection in opposition to Albania in Dortmund the next day. Spain and Croatia are additionally in Group B.
Earlier than departing for Germany, Italy play warmup matches in opposition to Turkey on Tuesday and Bosnia-Herzegovina 5 days later.