The National Times - Thigh injury rules Retegui out of Italy's Nations League clash with Germany

In a statement, the FIGC said Atalanta striker Retegui had an unspecified problem in his right thigh which has ruled him out of both legs of the last four tie, with Italy hosting Germany in the first leg at the San Siro on Thursday night.

Retegui is a big miss for coach Luciano Spalletti as he has established himself as Italy's starting centre-forward since playing a fringe role in the Azzurri's awful title defence at last year's European Championship.

The 25-year-old has had a hugely positive season after moving to Atalanta from Genoa late in last summer's transfer window, leading the Serie A scoring charts with 22 goals and adding three more in the Champions League.

Since choosing to play for Italy in 2023, Argentina-born Retegui has scored six times in 18 international appearances.

"We sent him home because he wasn't going to make it for the matches," Spalletti told reporters.

"There isn't a serious problem but he has this strain, so like we always do when there is any doubt we've sent him back to his club."

Spalletti added he would not be calling up anyone to replace Retegui "for now", but that could change depending on what happens in the first leg.

The 66-year-old said he would bring in either Roberto Piccoli from Cagliari or diminutive Roma forward Tommaso Baldanzi should he decide to add to his squad for Sunday's second leg in Dortmund.

Retegui's place on Thursday will be taken by Moise Kean who is a another player to have had a hugely positive season at a new club, with the 25-year-old scoring 20 times in all competitions for Fiorentina.

"He's a lad who cares a lot about his profession and his teammates. He's got that moral quality and team spirit that we want to have," said Spalletti.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has injury problems of his own with key forwards Kai Havertz, Florian Wirtz and Niclas Fuellkrug all missing.

However Nagelsmann can call upon the talent of long-term international outcasts Leon Goretzka, who last played for his country in 2023, and Borussia Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi.

Spalletti does not believe their high-profile absences will make much of a difference to the quality of opposition.

"A national team like Germany doesn't have problems with absentees... and then Sane might not play, or any one of the other four or five top-quality wingers that they have," said Spalletti.

"They're all players who can go past their man, and they have a wealth of brilliant midfielders."

The winner of the quarter-final will host the Nations League finals in June, with Italy opting for Turin should they get through.

W.Baxter--TNT