Italy training: Bastoni light running, Politano new problem
Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni was spotted running today after an ankle injury, but remains a major doubt for Italy’s World Cup play-off campaign, while Matteo Politano has a problem too.
The Nazionale came together this morning at the Coverciano camp to prepare for the semi-final against Northern Ireland, which will be held in Bergamo on Thursday evening.
If they win that fixture, then the Azzurri will go on to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final for a spot at the 2026 World Cup.
That game is planned for March 31 outside of Italian soil.
Italy gearing up for play-offs
There have been quite a few injury problems for coach Gennaro Gattuso, who today was forced to send Federico Chiesa back home to Liverpool and called up Bologna’s Nicolò Cambiaghi instead.
Bastoni had missed Inter’s last Serie A match against Fiorentina due to a left ankle problem and remains in doubt to feature against Northern Ireland.
However, there was positive news today when Bastoni was spotted running along the pitch.
It was not the same training routine as his teammates, and therefore continues the work he was doing at Inter over the last few days.
Sky Sport Italia report Gattuso asked Bastoni how he was feeling, and the reply was: “I can handle it.”
The same cannot be said of Napoli winger Politano, who was spotted sitting on the side of the turf with a large bandage on his left shin.
Gattuso set the teams out in a five-a-side match with Marco Palestra, Mateo Retegui, Alessandro Buongiorno, Andrea Cambiaso and Manuel Locatelli on one team, Leonardo Spinazzola, Davide Frattesi, Cambiaghi and Federico Gatti on the other.
The three goalkeepers alternated during the game.
Players who did not participate due to fitness issues are Gianluca Mancini, Sandro Tonali, Riccardo Calafiori and Gianluca Scamacca.