Italy loses 2 more midfielders ahead of Swiss qualifier

By: The Associated Press Posted: 8:36 AM CST Monday, Nov. 8, 2021 Last Modified: 1:44 PM CST Monday, Nov. 8, 2021

FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Italy lost another two midfielders ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Switzerland on Friday in Rome.

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FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Italy lost another two midfielders ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Switzerland on Friday in Rome.

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FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Italy lost another two midfielders ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Switzerland on Friday in Rome.

Coach Roberto Mancini, already without regular starter Marco Verratti through injury, said on Monday that Nicolò Zaniolo and Lorenzo Pellegrini would return to their club Roma.

Pellegrini has a knee injury while Zaniolo has a left calf issue. Both also missed Italy’s victorious European Championship campaign through injury.

Roma's Nicolo Zaniolo, left, and Bodo Glimt's Amahl Pellegrino vie for the ball during the Europa conference league soccer match between Roma and Bodo Glimt at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Mancini has called up Matteo Pessina and Danilo Cataldi to replace them. Pessina won Euro 2020 but has only just returned from injury, coming on as a stoppage-time substitute in Atalanta’s 2-1 win at Cagliari at the weekend.

The 27-year-old Cataldi has never played for Italy and the Lazio midfielder received his only previous call-up to the squad five years ago.

Inter Milan midfielder Nicolò Barella should recover in time to play for Italy despite being substituted in Sunday’s derby against AC Milan after picking up a knock.

Juventus defenders Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini are also fit after missing the Serie A match against Fiorentina on Saturday.

Italy and Switzerland have 14 points atop Group C, with only the first-place finisher getting a direct spot into next year’s finals in Qatar. The second-placed team goes into a playoff.

“It’s an important match so we mustn’t feel the pressure as we prepare,” Mancini said. “We have to be as calm as possible. Normally matches against Switzerland are always difficult and Friday’s match will be too.”