Football: Marchisio joins growing Italian absentee list

Italy’s attacking midfielder Claudio Marchisio will miss Sunday’s third place playoff match with Uruguay at the Confederations Cup in Salvador with a bruised leg, team sources said Saturday.

The Juventus player joins an absentee list which has now grown to five

Fellow midfielder Andrea Pirlo and defender Andrea Barzagli are also out, joining striker Mario Balotelli and defender Ignazio Abate, who had had already left the squad through injury after their group loss to Brazil.

The loss of Balotelli and Abate left the Italians having to reshuffle the pack for a semi-final against world champions Spain which they lost on penalties.

Three other players are meanwhile nursing knocks – defender Giorgio Chiellini, midfielder Daniele De Rossi and striker Alberto Gilardino.

“It is impossible to give you the team that will face Uruguay as we shall have to wait on training this afternoon to see who we can count upon,” said coach Cesare Prandelli.