Italy lose Thiago Motta, Osvaldo

By Football Italia staff

Italy have been handed a further double injury blow with the withdrawal from Antonio Conte’s squad of Thiago Motta and Dani Osvaldo.

The Azzurri lost Giacomo Bonaventura at the start of preparations for Euro 2016 qualifiers with Azerbaijan and Malta and have doubts over Marco Verratti’s availability too, whilst Daniele Rugani had to drop down to the Under-21s to cover Alessio Romagnoli’s injury there.

Now Conte has lost two further players in the shape of Motta and Osvaldo, with the Paris Saint-Germain man suffering with tendinitis and the Inter forward suffering a second degree strain to his left adductor.

Both men are confirmed by the Italian Football Federation as to return to their clubs this afternoon, with Osvaldo facing as long as a month on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Italy have also confirmed the squad numbers for tomorrow’s match with Azerbaijan.

Goalkeepers: 1 Buffon; 12 Sirigu; 16 Perin

Defenders: 19 Bonucci; 3 Chiellini; 4 Ogbonna; 13 Ranocchia

Midfielders: 14 Aquilani; 6 Candreva; 20 Darmian; 2 De Sciglio; 15 Florenzi

8 Marchisio; 18 Parolo; 23 Pasqual; 21 Pirlo; 5 Poli; 9 Verratti

Forwards: 22 Destro; 10 Giovinco; 11 Immobile; 17 Pellè; 7 Zaza

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