Football Italia
·18 November 2024
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·18 November 2024
Luciano Spalletti explains Gigio Donnarumma’s absence from a Nations League match against France as ‘he had a stomach ache and felt weak.’
PSG star Donnarumma missed Sunday’s Nations League game between Italy and France at San Siro due to illness.
Tottenham keeper Vicario started between the sticks for the Azzurri but wasn’t entirely convincing in a 3-1 home loss, which cost La Nazionale the top spot in their group.
Spalletti briefly explained Donnarumma’s omission during a post-match press conference last night, as quoted by TMW.
epa11721407 Italy’s head coach Luciano Spalletti (2-R) and national team delegation head Gianluigi Buffon (R) sing their national anthem ahead of the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Belgium and Italy in Brussels, Belgium, November 14 2024. EPA-EFE/OLIVIER MATTHYS
“He didn’t feel well. He had a stomach ache. We tried to recover him, but he felt weak,” said the Azzurri CT.
Donnarumma made his senior Italy debut in 2016 and already has 70 international appearances under his belt.
During a post-match interview with Rai Sport, Spalletti analysed Italy’s loss to France, insisting it should not affect the team’s confidence ahead of the Nations League quarter-finals in March and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The Azzurri will face Germany, Spain or Portugal in the Nations League quarter-finals next year. The draw will take place on Friday, November 22.