“He was deemed unavailable for the next two matches and, in agreement with the club, has left training camp,” explains the FIGC. Bastoni, Scamacca, and Mancini remain questionable

Rino Gattuso’s national team faces an uphill battle as it heads into Thursday’s 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff against Northern Ireland in Bergamo. The head coach is forced to do without Federico Chiesa, who has left Coverciano. “After assessing his physical condition upon his arrival at the Federal Technical Center, he was deemed unavailable for the next two matches and, in agreement with his club, has left the national team’s training camp,” the FIGC announced in a statement. Nicolò Cambiaghi of Bologna has been called up to replace him.

For Federico Chiesa, this would have marked a return to the Azzurri nearly two years after his last appearance—namely, the night Italy was eliminated from Euro 2024 against Switzerland. Gattuso had been pursuing him for a long time, and after receiving three “no’s” in September, October, and November, this time he had managed to convince the son of a legendary player. “He didn’t feel ready, and I need players who really are ready—he has some issues to sort out,” the coach had explained after their last unsuccessful meeting. This time it seemed like the right moment, but evidently the meager 673 minutes he’s played this season with Liverpool don’t allow him to be in acceptable form for two must-win matches.

Italy, players in doubt—  Gattuso will now assess the condition of three other players who arrived at Coverciano carrying injuries: Gianluca Mancini came off at halftime in the Roma-Lecce match due to a calf issue that doesn’t seem cause for concern; Alessandro Bastoni is still experiencing pain in his shin following the foul on Rabiot in the derby; and Gianluca Scamacca is dealing with an adductor injury but would like to give it a try.