Football
ESPN staff 9y

Toronto FC's Sebastian Giovinco injured after call-up to Italy squad

Italy recalled Sebastian Giovinco to the national squad on Saturday, though the forward limped off in Toronto FC's game a few hours after Antonio Conte announced his team for upcoming European Champions qualifiers against Bulgaria and Malta.

Giovinco, who has scored 17 goals and set up another 12 since moving to Major League Soccer from Juventus, is one of nine foreign-based players in the 28-man squad.

The 28-year-old has won 21 caps for Italy but hasn't played for his country since a friendly against Albania last November.

However, Giovinco limped off the pitch in the 51st minute of Toronto's 2-1 win over the Montreal Impact on Saturday, leaving his ability to play for Italy in jeopardy.

Toronto coach Greg Vanney said Giovinco left the game because of "some soreness in his adductor." He traveled directly to the airport after the game.

"I am very happy; given my performance I kind of expected the call," he said in a club interview. "It means that I have worked well up to now. But the hardest thing is to remain on the squad and I hope to keep playing this way."

He will be joined in the Italy squad by fellow MLS star Andrea Pirlo as Conte called up nine foreign-based players.

The others are Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian, Paris Saint-Germain players Salvatore Sirigu and Marco Verratti, and forwards Stephan El Shaarawy, Ciro Immobile and Graziano Pelle, who play for Monaco, Sevilla and Southampton. There was also a recall for Zenit St. Petersburg defender Domenico Criscito.

There is still no place for Mario Balotelli, who recently returned to AC Milan following a disappointing season at Liverpool. Balotelli hasn't played for Italy since Conte took over from Cesare Prandelli after last year's dismal World Cup.

A day earlier, Conte said of Balotelli's future: "The doors to the national team are not closed for anyone. But you have to deserve to be part of this team, via performances, behavior and moral aspects which we believe a lot in."

Balotelli was called up once last year by Conte but then was injured and sent home.

"It's up to Balotelli to deserve an eventual return," Conte added.

Italy host Malta in Florence on Thursday before playing Bulgaria in Palermo three days later.

Conte's team are second in Group H, a point behind Croatia and two ahead of Norway.

"We have to win," Giovinco said. "They're two very difficult games, but Italy has to win because of our winning tradition."

The full squad:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Daniele Padelli (Torino), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain)

Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Sassuolo), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Zenit St. Petersburg), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan), Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter Milan).

Midfielders: Andrea Bertolacci (AC Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Andrea Pirlo (New York City FC), Roberto Soriano (Sampdoria), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain).

Forwards: Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Eder (Sampdoria), Stephan El Shaarawy (Monaco), Manolo Gabbiadini (Napoli), Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto), Ciro Immobile (Sevilla), Graziano Pelle (Southampton), Franco Vazquez (Palermo), Simone Zaza (Juventus)

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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