Italy are set to be without one of their best players of Euro 2024 with Riccardo Calafiori set to miss their clash against Switzerland.
The centre-back has been excellent in all three group games, while he provided a crucial assist in the draw against Croatia to ensure the defending champions made it into the knockout rounds.
However, Luciano Spalletti will have to find a replacement for the graceful centre-back in this must-win game.
Why is Calafiori not playing against Switzerland?
Calafiori was booked twice across the group stages, meaning he has to serve a one-match ban.
The 22-year-old picked up a booking early in the second half of Italy‘s 2-1 win over Albania.
He was then yellow carded in stoppage time of the 1-1 draw against Croatia as he stopped a late counter-attack.
In many ways, that probably proved to be the best yellow card of his career as just moments later, he carried the ball from defence to the edge of the Croatia box and slipped a pass into Mattia Zaccagni.
Zaccagni curled the ball into the top corner to send Croatia out and ensured Italy made the round of 16, where they will face Switzerland, live on talkSPORT.
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But because of those two bookings, Italy will be without their new star centre-back.
The Bologna man will have to watch on from the sidelines as Gil Azzurri take on the Swiss for the potential chance to face England in the quarter-finals.
Gianluca Mancini is the favourite to come into the starting XI, according to reports in Italy.
But no matter who plays, Calafiori will be a big absence for Italy, and should they make it through, they’ll welcome him back with open arms.
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