Arsenal: Italy make Riccardo Calafiori squad decision for World Cup play-off final | OneFootball

Several Arsenal players have been forced to withdraw from international duty

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori is fit and available for selection as Italy bid to end their World Cup exile.

The Azzurri missed out on the 2018 and 2022 editions of the World Cup after losing to Sweden and North Macedonia respectively in the play-offs, and there is pressure on Gennaro Gattuso’s side to avoid another heartbreak.

Hopes of Italy beating Bosnia have been boosted with Calafiori being named in the squad that travelled to Zenica.

The Arsenal defender played the full 90 minutes against Northern Ireland in the play-off semi-final last Thursday, helping his nation keep a clean sheet in a 2-0 win at the New Balance Arena.

As revealed by Gattuso, Calafiori had arrived in camp complaining of a “little pain”.

Though any lingering fears among Arsenal supporters over the 23-year-old have been allayed after coming through the Northern Ireland game unscathed to prove his fitness for the Bosnia clash.

Italy have not lost to Bosnia since an international friendly in November 1996 and the winners will join Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B at this summer’s showpiece event in North America.

Arsenal, meanwhile, will be relieved not to have any more injury concerns, with Martin Zubimendi and Piero Hincapie becoming the latest senior players to withdraw from international duty ahead of their return to domestic action this weekend.

Noni Madueke suffered a knee injury in England’s 1-1 draw against Uruguay and has been sent back to Arsenal for further tests. Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice have also left the Three Lions camp early, with both players carrying knocks.

William Saliba pulled out of France duty with an ankle complaint, while Gabriel did not link up with Brazil’s squad because of knee pain.

Leandro Trossard did not go away with Belgium due to an unspecified knock, with Jurrien Timber also replaced in the Netherlands squad after an ankle problem ruled him out of the Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City.

Eberechi Eze withdrew from the England squad and could now miss between four to six weeks with a calf issue that forced him to sit out at Wembley.