Italy has another issue in defense with Gabbia ruled out before facing Haaland's Norway | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
Subscribe

Would you like to subscribe to our newsletter?

Current Conditions Mostly Cloudy  20.1°C

Italy has another issue in defense with Gabbia ruled out before facing Haaland's Norway

Milan's Matteo Gabbia scores goal 1-0 during during the Serie A soccer match between Milan and Monza at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan, Italy, Saturday, May. 24, 2025. (Alberto Mariani/LaPresse via AP)

FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Italy has another issue in defense before facing Erling Haaland and Norway on Friday in a World Cup qualifier.

AC Milan center back Matteo Gabbia was ruled out with a right calf issue on Wednesday and Daniele Rugani was called up as a replacement.

Italy was already without Francesco Acerbi, who turned down his call-up to the national team, and Alessandro Buongiorno, who left the training camp due to a right thigh injury.

Rugani spent last season on loan at Ajax and is set to return to Juventus. He hasn’t been called up by Italy since 2018.

It’s Italy’s first qualifier and the Azzurri are already trailing group leader Norway, which has a full six points and a plus-seven goal differential after beating Moldova 5-0 and Israel 4-2.

Italy hosts Moldova on Monday in Reggio Emilia.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

News from © The Associated Press, 2025
The Associated Press

  • Popular kamloops News
View Site in: Desktop | Mobile