Toronto FC's Sebastian Giovinco allows the ball to run during first half MLS action against Montreal Impact in Toronto on Saturday August 29, 2015. Giovinco has pulled out of the Italy squad with an injury, two days after he was recalled by coach Antonio Conte following an absence of almost a year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
August 31, 2015 - 8:10 AM
FLORENCE, Italy - Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco has pulled out of the Italy squad with an injury, two days after he was recalled by coach Antonio Conte following an absence of almost a year.
Giovinco was substituted early in the second half of Saturday's win against Montreal Impact with an adductor muscle injury but still flew to Italy to join the squad.
The Italian football federation confirmed Monday that Giovinco had left the training camp at Coverciano, near Florence, "early in the afternoon" as he was not fit for the upcoming European Champions qualifiers against Malta and Bulgaria.
Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne was called up Sunday night.
Italy hosts Malta in Florence on Thursday before playing Bulgaria in Palermo three days later.
Conte's team is second in Group H, a point behind Croatia and two ahead of Norway.
News from © The Associated Press, 2015