01 September 2017
CHIELLINI DEPARTS COVERCIANO
Giorgio Chiellini has left the Azzurri training camp after the player reported a muscular discomfort in his right calf during training. Chiellini left Coverciano after the first clinical and diagnostic examinations.
SOUTH AMERICAN STALEMATES
Juan Cuadrado’s Colombia were held to a 0-0 draw away to Venezuela. Paulo Dybala and Argentina also had the same result, in drawing 0-0 away to Uruguay in the Derby del Rio de La Plata. Both sides stay as they were in the South American World Cup qualifying group in 2nd and 5th place respectively.
Up next for Argentina is a home match against bottom side Venezuela in Buenos Aries, whilst Colombia host Brazil.
THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Blaise Matuidi was an unused substitute as France crushed the Netherlands 4-0 at the Stade de France to take top-spot in European World Cup qualifying Group A. Didier Deschamps' men host Luxembourg next in Matuidi’s hometown of Toulouse.
In Group B, Switzerland became the first European side to guarantee themselves at least a play-off spot for Russia 2018, as they dispatched Andorra 3-0 at home, with Juventus’ own Stephan Lichtsteiner getting on the scoresheet. The Swiss will be in a confident mood when they travel to bottom of the table Latvia next.
Things weren’t so great for Miralem Pjanic and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as they slipped to a 3-2 defeat away to Cyprus. However, they will be optimistic of getting their qualifying campaign back on track, when they head to last place Gibraltar in a few days’ time.
UP NEXT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BIANCONERI
Wojciech Szczesny’s Poland play away to Denmark this evening in what could be a tricky encounter. Medhi Benatia’s Morocco will be hoping to kick-start their campaign when they host Mali in Marrakesh.
Saturday night sees Croatia and Mario Mandzukic play host to Kosovo, and then there’s the big encounter at the Bernabeu where Spain host Italy, with Gianluigi Buffon, Federico Bernardeschi, Daniele Rugani and Andrea Barzagli all vying to play their part.
