ITALY
Italy striker Mario Balotelli has been ruled out of Sunday’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Croatia due to concerns over his hamstring and groin, the Italian football federation confirmed on Saturday.
Balotelli had been called into the squad by coach Antonio Conte after being sidelined for Italy’s opening three wins in Group H.
However the Liverpool striker has left Italy’s Coverciano training camp after being diagnosed with a “hamstring strain and sore groin”. Italy will also miss Juventus defender Angelo Ogbonna, who has a sore left thigh.
A statement from the federation said: “Mario Balotelli and Angelo Ogbonna will leave the National team training camp today [Saturday].
“Although Ogbonna’s left thigh injury is improving, he has been advised to avoid stressing the injury as a precaution.
“It is the same secenario for the Liverpool striker [Balotelli], who since yesterday has felt a hamstring strain and a sore groin.”
Italy sit second in Group H behind Croatia after three opening wins for each side but have not beaten the Croats in 72 years.
SWEDEN
Prolific goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been declared fit to start for Sweden when they take on Montenegro in Podgorica in a Euro 2016 Group G qualifier on Saturday evening.
The Paris Saint-Germain striker missed Sweden’s last two qualifiers, a 1-1 home draw with Russia and a 2-0 win away over Liechtenstein, due to a niggling heel injury.
There are still doubts over the fitness of Ibrahimovic, who has scored 50 goals in 100 matches for his country, but he will start, the Swedish management team said.
“He is good enough to start,” player’s manager Markus Allback told the Swedish Football Association’s website.
“He has a few per cent left until he’s 100, but it feels so good that he wants to start, and we want that too,” Allback said.
GERMANY
Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been ruled out of Tuesday’s friendly against Spain with a right knee injury.
The German football federation says Neuer left the team hotel in Nuremberg following his side’s 4-0 European qualifying win over Gibraltar and will not rejoin the squad in Munich on Sunday ahead of the game in Vigo.
Coach Joachim Loew says “I’d have liked to play the best team against Spain but we don’t want to take any risks with Manuel. In Roman Weidenfeller and Ron-Robert Zieler we have two outstanding alternatives.”