Davide Frattesi leaves Italy camp with muscle strain, misses Belgium match

Frattesi leaves the camp

Davide Frattesi left the Italy camp on Friday, 13 November, a day after scoring Italy's second goal in the 3-1 win over France in Milan. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) confirmed the withdrawal in an official statement, saying the Lazio midfielder was dealing with a muscle strain that ruled him out of the Belgium game. He returned to Rome to rejoin his club rather than stay with the squad. Le Soir put his record at 10 goals in 39 caps for Italy, and noted he had scored four times in eleven games for Lazio this season.

“Davide Frattesi has left the Azzurri camp: the Lazio midfielder is dealing with a muscle strain that makes him unavailable for the match against Belgium.”

Medical checks and the Belgium decision

Il Messaggero reported that Frattesi came off about fifteen minutes before the final whistle against France and was seen massaging his thigh on the bench. Head coach Roberto Mancini had played the problem down at a press conference, describing it as solvable within two days. Lazio's medical staff then consulted him by phone together with coach Gennaro Gattuso, and the two sides decided not to take a risk. According to the same report, Frattesi would not have started against Belgium in any case. Lazio gave the squad two days off, with a light session on Tuesday, and Frattesi is set to rest while hoping to train with the group again in about four days.

Belgium game and the group standings

Italy face Belgium at the Stade Roi Baudouin in Brussels on Sunday, 15 November, in the last match of the Nations League group phase. Le Soir reported that Italy and France both have 10 points at the top of Group A1, with Italy ahead on head-to-head results. Belgium are third with 9 points and must win to reach the quarter-finals. Italy can settle for a draw and still have a chance to advance, according to the same outlet.

Italy10

France10

Belgium9

Italy

10 points

France

10 points

Belgium

9 points

Data from the article text

Lazio's injury list and the Lecce game

Lazio are already short of players. Before the international break, Gattuso had been without Zaccagni and Gudmundsson for the match at the Maradona, and the club has also lost Sutalo for 50 days and Tavares for about a month. Adam Marusic, who left the Italy camp early, still feels pain in his thigh, a problem that dates back to an injury suffered in August against Bologna, and he will undergo new instrumental tests in Rome. Gattuso hopes Frattesi can be recovered for the Lecce match at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, 21 November, when the league resumes.