Italy forward Zaza in doubt for playoff against Sweden

Posted November 09, 2017 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Italy's Simone Zaza, left, eyes the ball during a training session ahead of Friday's first leg of a World Cup playoff against Sweden, at the Coverciano training center, near Florence, Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2017. Italy forward Simone Zaza injured his left knee in training on Thursday, a day before the first leg of a World Cup playoff against Sweden. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP) The Associated Press

ROME (AP) - Italy forward Simone Zaza injured his left knee in training on Thursday, a day before the first leg of a World Cup playoff against Sweden.

The Italian soccer federation said Zaza stopped training because of a "flare-up of a previous problem with his left knee."

Zaza travelled with the rest of the squad to Sweden but is in doubt for Friday's match.

There are already question marks over forwards Andrea Belotti and Ciro Immobile. Belotti, who scored 26 goals with Torino in Serie A last season, is working his way back from a right knee injury. Immobile leads the Italian league with 14 goals in 11 matches this season but recently strained a leg muscle.

"Zaza had a slight problem, but we are not going to despair," Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura told a news conference at the stadium in Solna. "If he is fit he'll play, if not we'll try to get him ready for Monday.

"Belotti is much better now than when he arrived, he had only played two games with little training since the injury, so he wasn't at his best."

The two teams meet in the opening leg on Friday, in one of four European playoffs. The return match will be at the San Siro in Milan three days later.

Italy's head coach Gian Piero Ventura walks the pitch during a training session ahead of Friday's World Cup play-off soccer match against Sweden, at the Coverciano training center, near Florence, Italy, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP) The Associated Press

Italian players run during a training session ahead of Friday's World Cup play-off soccer match against Sweden, at the Coverciano training center, near Florence, Italy, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP) The Associated Press

Italy's head coach Gian Piero Ventura, right, talks to defender Leonardo Bonucci during a training session ahead of Friday's World Cup play-off soccer match against Sweden, at the Coverciano training center, near Florence, Italy, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP) The Associated Press

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