Verratti Out of World Cup Playoff Due to Surgery, Gattuso Calls Up Jorginho to Italy Squad

Italian international midfielder Marco Verratti has been confirmed out of Italy's World Cup playoff matches due to a meniscal tear requiring urgent surgical intervention. The 33-year-old player is scheduled to undergo surgery in the coming hours, depriving the national team of his services during this pivotal stage of the World Cup qualifiers.

Italy's head coach, Gennaro Gattuso, had been seriously considering recalling Verratti to the international squad for the playoffs, but the injury has forced a change in the coaching staff's plans. In light of this, journalist Bruno Lemos reported that Gattuso has already contacted defensive midfielder Jorginho to compensate for Verratti's absence, with the 34-year-old player's name now included in Italy's preliminary squad.

These developments come as the "Azzurri" contend with other significant absences, including Di Lorenzo and Udogie, both sidelined due to injury. This has prompted the coach to seek alternative options to bolster the team's ranks ahead of the anticipated clashes. The Italian national team is preparing to face Northern Ireland in the playoff, and should they qualify, they could meet either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the decisive final match.

It is worth noting that Marco Verratti has 55 international appearances for Italy. Jorginho's last involvement with the national team was on June 24, 2024, when they faced Croatia. These successive absences place additional pressure on the technical staff to finalize their tactical arrangements before entering the playoffs, aiming to secure qualification for the global finals.