Pirols, France: Italy midfielder Antonio Candreva will miss Monday’s Euro 2016 match with title holders Spain because of a groin injury, the Italian football federation said.
“We are disappointed for Candreva,” defender Andrea Barzagli said Saturday.
“We know what he does for us and he played well in the first two matches but we’re a squad of 23 and we have enough replacements that we won’t miss him too much.”
Candreva suffered the injury in Italy’s second Group E match, a 1-0 win against Sweden, and since then has been following a special training programme.
He is likely to be replaced by Alessio Florenzi on the right side of midfield when Italy meet Spain at the Stade de France in Paris in a re-run of the 2012 final which the Spanish won 4-0.
Spain’s midfielder Sergio Busquets, meanwhile, said that his team must be realistic rather than being optimistic or pessimistic on the upcoming match against Italy.
In an interview with the Iberdrola corporate web, Busquets on Friday said: “In our country there are lots of debates and criticism when we lose and euphoria when we win.
“Those of us on the inside have to keep our feet firmly on the ground, know what to do at each moment and be realistic rather than optimistic or pessimistic,” the 27-year-old Barcelona player added.
On the other hand, Busquets defended captain Sergio Ramos after the centre-back missed a vital penalty against Croatia, as well as goalkeeper David De Gea, who was held responsible by some fans for the two goals conceded against Croatia.
