Image Credits: Imago Images
For Federico Chiesa has been missing at international level, watching from the sidelines as Italy embarked on their desperate mission to avoid a third consecutive World Cup absence.
A combination of injury setbacks, limited playing time at Anfield, and personal reasons kept him away from Gennaro Gattuso’s camp through the September, October, and November international breaks. The Italy manager was characteristically blunt in public, saying “I call Chiesa in every call-up; I always talk to him. The problem is not Gattuso or his staff; he has a problem, not us.”
It was a saga that had dragged on for months -but this March, finally, it seemed as though the sun was beginning to shine again for the 28-year-old.
Chiesa was officially included in Gattuso’s 28-man squad on Friday, March 20th, for the all-important World Cup playoff semi-final against Northern Ireland in Bergamo on March 26th. It marked his first Italy call-up since Euro 2024 – almost two years absent from the Azzurri setup – and with a potential final against Wales or Bosnia & Herzegovina to follow on March 31st, the stakes could hardly have been higher for a nation on the brink of a third straight World Cup miss.
However, it seems the 28-year-old can’t catch a break. Upon reporting to the Federal Technical Centre at Coverciano on Sunday for the opening of the training camp, Chiesa underwent a physical examination – and was deemed unfit. The FIGC confirmed the news, with Calciomercato reporting the federation’s statement:
“The player Federico Chiesa, having verified his physical condition once he arrived at the Federal Technical Center, was deemed unavailable for the next two matches and, in agreement with the club, left the national team training camp. Bologna footballer Nicolò Cambiaghi has been called in his place”.
For Chiesa, it is yet another cruel twist – recalled to the most important Italy camp in years, only to be ruled out before a ball was even kicked.
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