Injured Buongiorno to miss Italy’s opening World Cup qualifiers

ROME: Italy will be without defender Alessandro Buongiorno for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Norway and Moldova, the country’s football federation said on Sunday.

Napoli centre-back Buongiorno has failed to recover from a thigh injury in time for Italy’s opening matches in Group I, and has been replaced by Fiorentina’s Luca Ranieri who has never played for the senior national team.

Coach Luciano Spalletti has a 27-man squad for the first two matches of the qualifying campaign, which begins in Oslo against Erling Haaland’s Norway on Friday.

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Italy, who failed to qualify for the last two World Cups, then host Moldova three says later in Reggio Emilia.

Norway lead Group I after winning both their opening matches against Israel and Moldova in March.

Separately, Teenager Desire Doue starts in attack for Paris St Germain as they face Inter Milan in the Champions League final at the Allianz Arena on Saturday, with defender Benjamin Pavard and captain Lautaro Martinez starting for the Italian side.

PSG manager Luis Enrique has placed his trust in the 19-year-old Doue, partnering him with Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the forward line, leaving Bradley Barcola on the bench as the French champions aim to secure their maiden Champions League trophy.