Italy will be without key man Leonardo Spinazzola for tonight’s Euro 2020 last-four tie against Spain at Wembley.
The 28-year-old had been one of Roberto Mancini’s key performers throughout their run to the semi-finals, vying with the likes of England’s Luke Shaw for the most effective left-back title.
However, Spinazzola is now facing months on the sidelines after being stretchered off almost in tears in the second half of the 2-1 last-eight win over top-ranked Belgium in Munich on Friday evening, with subsequent tests in Rome revealing an Achilles tendon rupture. He has since undergone surgery in Finland.
New Roma boss Jose Mourinho said on Instagram: “We all feel sorry about the loss of Spinazzola for a few months but that is football and we have to be ready to start next week.”
Emerson Palmieri was Spinazzola’s replacement for the final 11 minutes against Belgium and the Chelsea left-back will deputise from the start against Spain in tonight’s heavyweight semi-final showdown at Wembley.
Here is how Italy will shape up against Spain at Wembley...
Italy starting lineup
(4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Chiesa, Immobile, Insigne
Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alex Meret, Salvatore Sirigu
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Emerson, Alessandro Florenzi, Rafael Toloi
Midfielders: Nicolo Barella, Bryan Cristante, Jorginho, Manuel Locatelli, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Stefano Sensi, Marco Verratti
Forwards: Andrea Belotti, Domenico Berardi, Federico Bernardeschi, Federico Chiesa, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne, Giacomo Raspadori
Suspension list
Italy have no suspensions to contend with, while there are also no players at risk of potentially missing the final by picking up a second yellow card, with cautions wiped after the quarters.
