Italy, facing Malta and surrounded by another scandal

Italy, current European champion, received this Saturday malt before visiting on Tuesday England at a time when the ‘azzurra’ is again involved in the shadow of a scandal due to a case of alleged illegal betting affecting some ‘nazionale’ players. And with the passage to the next Euro Cup, Germany 2024, at stake.

Specific Nicolò Zaniolo (Aston Villa) and Sandro Tonali (Newcastle) They admitted to betting on poker and blackjack, but denied betting on football matches within the framework of the ‘Betting Case’ which is being investigated by the Turin Prosecutor’s Office and in which they left the Italian concentration on Thursday to be questioned by the police. The first thing that came out of the investigation was Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus) and the fourth person involved may, although there is no official confirmation, be Polish Nicola Zalewski (Roma).

Italy-Malta

San Nicola (Bari), 20.45 (UEFA TV)

Italy: Donnarumma; Darmian, Mancini, Bastoni, Dimarco; Barella, Locatelli, Frattesi; Berardi, Raspadori and Kean
coaches: Luciano Spalletti
Malta: Bonello; J. Borg, Muscat, Pepe; Mbong, Kristensen, Guillaumier, Camenzuli; Yankam, Degabriele; Nwoko
coaches: Michele Marcolini
Referee: Duje Strukan (Croatia)

If proven Tonali and Zaniolo They do not bet on football matches, they will not receive sanctions from the Italian Football Federation, but rather from ordinary justice, in this case less than those from sports.

“These are difficult times. You are close to Zaniolo and Tonali in people and in sports,” he said Gianluigi Donnarummagoalkeeper of Italy. Luciano Spallettiwho replaced Roberto Mancini as Italian coach, called, after the departure of Tonali and Zanioloin Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma)to return to ‘nazionale’ for the first time since March 2021. Federico Chiesa it is low.

Italy It is 2nd in group C of the phase for Euro 2024, 6 points behind England (leader with one more game). On Tuesday, England-Italyrepeat the Euro 2020 final (played in 2021) won on penalties by the ‘azzurri’. Italy It has 7 points, like Ukraine (3rd) and North Macedonia (4th).