Francesco Acerbi Withdraws From Italy Squad After Inter Milan’s Heavy Defeat To PSG

‎Italy will be without Francesco Acerbi for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

‎The defender withdrew from the squad on Sunday following Inter Milan’s heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.

‎Coach Luciano Spalletti said that Acerbi “had decided not to respond positively to his call-up” for Italy’s opening matches in Group I against Norway and Moldova.

‎”He’s not got a physical problem, he’s just thought about everything he’s gone through recently,” added Spalletti, who has not as yet called up a replacement.

‎Acerbi started as center-back for Inter on Saturday in a humiliating 5-0 thumping by PSG, the biggest-ever defeat suffered in a Champions League final.

‎Napoli centre-back Alessandro Buongiorno has failed to recover from a thigh injury and has been replaced by Fiorentina’s Luca Ranieri who has never played for the senior national team.

‎Spalletti has a 26-man squad for the first two matches of the qualifying campaign, which begins in Oslo against Erling Haaland’s Norway on Friday.

‎Italy, who failed to qualify for the last two World Cups, then host Moldova three days later in Reggio Emilia.

‎Norway topped Group I after securing victories in their first two matches against Israel and Moldova in March.