Despite not qualifying for the World Cup, Italy still have some games to play in the coming weeks, with friendlies against Albania and Austria scheduled for Wednesday and Sunday.
There is nothing to play for here, but it will give a chance for Roberto Mancini to look at a few players, which would have normally included West Ham United’s Emerson Palmieri.
The left-back was signed by the Hammers in the summer, freeing from his Chelsea prison, but it hasn’t exactly made him a regularly starter at London Stadium.
He’s only been in the starting XI three times in the Premier League for West Ham, and failed to come on from the bench in their past five league games.
The news came from the Italy FA themselves, publishing a note on their website claiming that both Rafael Toloi and the West Ham defender ‘were excluded from the squad list due to their respective injuries’.
Instead, FC Empoli’s Fabiano Parisi was called up to replace Palmieri, who will have to wait a little while longer to add to his 28 Italy caps.
Their next official games are UEFA Euro Qualifiers, with the first game of the campaign against England on March 23rd of next year.
