Italy's Defensive Woes: Scalvini Out, Gatti Steps In for Euro 2024

Italy's defense faces a crisis as Giorgio Scalvini is ruled out of the European Championship due to an ACL tear. Federico Gatti steps in, joining the squad for their title defense. Scalvini's injury adds to the challenges, with Francesco Acerbi also out. Italy starts their campaign against Albania on June 14.

Italy's defense crisis deepened Monday as Giorgio Scalvini was ruled out of the European Championship after tearing an ACL in Atalanta's last match of the season.

The 20-year-old defender has been replaced in Italy's provisional squad by Juventus counterpart Federico Gatti. The Italian soccer federation announced this change with the Azzurri's title defense kicking off in less than two weeks.

Gatti was already on standby after Inter defender Francesco Acerbi, a Euro 2020 champion, pulled out with a groin injury last week. The 25-year-old Gatti, who debuted in 2022, has played three times for Italy.

Scalvini appeared emotional Sunday when he was taken off five minutes before the end of Atalanta's 3-2 loss to Fiorentina. Tests confirmed a ligament tear in his left knee after he scored in the first half.

The Serie A match was rescheduled from March, a delay caused by former Fiorentina general manager Joe Barone's illness and subsequent death.

Scalvini was expected to join the Italy squad Monday, alongside teammate Gianluca Scamacca. With Scalvini's injury, Gatti will now head to Italy’s training headquarters near Florence. He was alerted by coach Luciano Spalletti last Thursday and has been preparing independently since.

Scalvini played eight times for Italy, while the 36-year-old Acerbi has 34 appearances. Three players need to be cut from the squad by Thursday as Euro 2024 begins in Germany on June 14. Italy starts their campaign against Albania in Dortmund, with Spain and Croatia also in Group B.

Before heading to Germany, Italy plays warmup matches against Turkey on Tuesday and Bosnia-Herzegovina five days later.