Frattesi Leaves Italy Camp With Muscle Injury, Out vs. Belgium
Italy midfielder Davide Frattesi has left the national team camp with a muscle injury and will miss Sunday's Nations League match against Belgium in Brussels. Italy need a point to reach the quarter-finals, and a win would secure top spot in Group A1.
Italy midfielder Davide Frattesi has left the national team camp with a muscle injury and will miss Sunday's UEFA Nations League match against Belgium in Brussels, according to an official statement.
The Lazio player scored in Italy's 3-1 win over France at San Siro on Thursday. He returned to his club from the squad's base in Coverciano, where Lazio's medical staff will monitor his condition.
Examinations found a muscular problem that leaves him no time to recover before the match.
Yellow card mix-up
Frattesi's name had already surfaced in a separate confusion after the France game. UEFA initially reported that defender Alessandro Bastoni had been booked in the second half, which would have ruled him out of the Belgium match.
The Italian football federation (FIGC) later said that was a reporting error and that the yellow card had been shown to Frattesi. Neither player faced a suspension, and Bastoni remains available for selection.
Frattesi's absence therefore comes down to injury alone.
What is at stake
Italy and France are level on 10 points in Group A1, with Italy ahead on head-to-head record. Belgium are third on nine points, and Turkiye have no points.
Italy need at least a point in Brussels to secure a quarter-final place. A win would guarantee them top spot in the group, ahead of France.
Frattesi put Italy 2-1 up on Thursday, drilling in a shot from a cross by Federico Dimarco, who had just come off the bench. Francesco Pio Esposito, who scored twice, then added a penalty to seal the result.
The win extended Italy's unbeaten run to four matches under head coach Roberto Mancini. It was also their first home win over France since 1962.
Frattesi has 39 caps and 10 goals for Italy. He has scored four goals in 11 Serie A appearances this season since joining Lazio in the summer.
Italy opened their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Belgium. They then beat Turkiye 4-1 and 3-1, and drew 1-1 with France before Thursday's win.
Belgium host Italy on Sunday, while Turkiye travel to France in the final round of group games.
