Italian national team will be without Federico Chiesa and Federico Dimarco for their first two Euro 2024 qualifying matches against England and North Macedonia. Both players sustained injuries and are unavailable for selection. Chiesa, who plays for Juventus Turin, complained of pain in his right knee after playing less than 20 minutes in a match against Inter Milan. However, medical tests did not reveal any significant injury. On the other hand, Dimarco, who is a left-back for Inter Milan, suffered a groin injury during the same game.
The Italian national team is already dealing with several other injuries. England will be without Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount, and Nick Pope. However, the game is expected to be highly competitive, with both teams eager to show their strength. The game will be played on Thursday, 24th March in Naples. The second qualifying match for the Euro 2024 will take place on Sunday, 27th March in Malta.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has announced that Emerson Palmieri from West Ham will replace Dimarco in the national team. However, they have not yet announced who will replace Chiesa. Additionally, Ivan Provedel, one of the four goalkeepers initially selected, has also declared himself unavailable and has been replaced by Marco Carnesecchi from Cremonese.
Injuries are a significant concern for all national teams during international matches. Coaches have to ensure that they have backup options for all positions in case of unexpected injuries. Nonetheless, injuries provide an opportunity for other players to prove themselves on the international stage. The Italian team will be looking to make the most of the situation by testing their depth during these matches.