Italy have called up defensive reinforcements for Tuesday's key World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic after losing defenders Ignazio Abate and Luca Antonelli to injury.
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Right-back Abate, who plays for AC Milan, sustained an adductor problem while Genoa left-back Antonelli suffered an ankle sprain in Friday's 1-0 win over Bulgaria which moved Italy to the brink of qualification.
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Both will miss Tuesday's fixture in Turin, forcing Italy coach Cesare Prandelli to call up Manuel Pasqual of Fiorentina and Lorenzo De Silvestri of Sampdoria.
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"Ignazio has an adductor problem while Luca badly sprained his ankle," Prandelli said after Friday's clash.
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"Both are quite serious injuries and neither will be available for the game against the Czechs."
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De Silvestri's only previous cap came in a 5-0 win over the Faroe Islands in September 2010, while Fiorentina captain Pasqual's last Italy appearance was in 2008.
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Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne, meanwhile, also came off injured on Friday after receiving a knock and will likely lose his place to Emanuele Giaccherini.
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Italy top Group B on 17 points and hold a seven-point lead on Bulgaria, with the Czech Republic in third but on the same points as fourth-placed Armenia following a shock 2-1 home defeat to the minnows on Friday.
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With three qualifiers remaining, Italy will clinch top spot and automatic qualification with a win on Tuesday.
This injury of a thing is something terrible so I must say it's disheartening to some fans when it happens at the wrong time!