Euro 2024

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Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage

Sep 12, 2023 at 7.45pm UK

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza

Italy
2 - 1
Ukraine

Frattesi (12', 29')

FT(HT: 2-1)

Yarmolenko (41')
Mykolenko (38'), Konoplya (62'), Stepanenko (76'), Zabarnyi (78')

Gianluca Mancini, Matteo Politano out of Italy squad, Riccardo Orsolini called up

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter

Published: September 10 2023 | 16:54

Last updated: September 10 2023 | 19:48

Mancini, Politano out of Italy squad, Orsolini called up

Roma defender Gianluca Mancini and Napoli attacker Matteo Politano withdraw from the Italy squad due to injury, while Bologna's Riccardo Orsolini has been called up.

Roma's Gianluca Mancini and Napoli's Matteo Politano have withdrawn from the Italy squad due to injury.

Both players started in the Azzurri's 1-1 draw away against North Macedonia in Euro 2024 qualifying on Saturday – Luciano Spalletti's first game in charge.

However, defender Mancini sustained a thigh strain during the second half and has now returned to Roma to begin his recovery.

Politano, meanwhile, has retuned to Napoli for assessments on a calf problem that forced the attacker to be withdrawn at half time against North Macedonia.

Spalletti has opted against calling up a replacement for Mancini, but the Italy boss has called up Bologna winger Riccardo Orsolini to take the place of Politano.

Mancini and Politano have left the camp 📰

Riccardo Orsolini has been called up 🆕#VivoAzzurro #Azzurri pic.twitter.com/2FFxZmJ9Eb
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) September 10, 2023

Orsolini, who scored 11 goals in 32 Serie A games last season, has not represented his country since November 2020 when he scored as a substitute in a 4-0 friendly win over Estonia.

The 26-year-old's only other appearance for the Azzurri was his senior debut a year earlier when he starred with one goal and two assists in a thumping 9-1 victory over Armenia in Euro 2020 qualifying.

Orsolini will be hoping to force his way into Spalletti's starting lineup when Italy play host to Ukraine at San Siro in a Euro 2024 qualifier next Tuesday.

Italy currently sit third in Group C of Euro 2024 qualifying with four points from their opening three games, three points behind second-placed Ukraine who have played a game more and drew 1-1 with leaders England on Saturday.