Who could replace Dimarco and Cambiaso for Italy against Germany in Nations League quarter-final – Football Italia – March 18 latest

The Italy national team are two days out from the first leg of the Nations League quarter-final against Germany in San Siro, but Luciano Spalletti will have to do without a key component of his team in Federico Dimarco and possibly Andrea Cambiaso on the other flank as well. Here is who could replace the Azzurri wing-backs. 

Dimarco was not included in Spalletti’s 25-man Italy squad for the Nations League quarter-finals due to the injury that has kept him out of the last two Inter matches. 

Cambiaso, meanwhile, has been included in the squad and was cleared for international duty despite coming off and then needing to be substituted off again during Juventus’s 3-0 loss against Fiorentina on Sunday. 

Who could replace Dimarco and Cambiaso in Italy-Germany?

With Dimarco definitely ruled out, it is assumed that Tottenham Hotspur’s Destiny Udogie will start as the direct replacement at left wing-back against Germany. Atalanta’s Matteo Ruggeri has earned his first call-up as well and could feature from the bench. 

There are more question marks over the right wing-back slot given the uncertainty over Cambiaso’s availability. If he is not fit enough to start on Thursday, then it is likely that Napoli’s Matteo Politano will start at right wing-back, as he has done in Antonio Conte’s 3-5-2 in recent weeks. 

The other option to feature at right wing-back is Giovanni Di Lorenzo, however, he is currently expected to play in the back three, also as he has done under Conte at Napoli.