FC's Mark Ogden reports from Spain, after Italy's 3-0 loss in WCQ and their likely entry into the playoffs for qualification.
Torino striker Andrea Belotti will miss Italy's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Albania, although his knee injury is not thought to be as serious as first feared.
Belotti underwent tests on Monday after injuring his knee in Torino's 2-2 draw with Hellas Verona on Sunday, and while he has not torn his ligaments, Sky Sport Italia reports he still won't be fit for either of Italy's qualifiers in October.
Chievo's Roberto Inglese, on loan from Napoli, has already been called up as a replacement for the 23-year-old Belotti -- who has scored four goals in 11 games for the Azzurri.
In addition to losing Belotti and Marco Verratti -- who withdrew from the squad on Sunday -- Italy coach Giampiero Ventura is also without Roma's Lorenzo Pellegrini, another player lost to injury on the weekend, while Daniele De Rossi is to undergo tests at the team's base in Coverciano.
The Italian FA have announced on their website that Inter Milan's Roberto Gagliardini and Atalanta's Bryan Cristante have been called up to provide cover, with the latter earning his first call-up to the senior squad.
Andrea Belotti underwent tests after injuring his knee in Torino's 2-2 draw with Hellas Verona on Sunday.
Cagliari's Nicolo Barella, who was due to feature for the under-21s, was also promoted to the senior squad for the first time on Sunday.
Italy host Macedonia in Torino's home stadium, the Stadio Olimpico in Turin, on Friday evening before concluding their qualifying campaign in Albania next Monday.
The Azzurri need just a point from their last two fixtures to ensure they will finish second in their qualifying group and earn a playoff berth for a place at next summer's World Cup, but could top the group and qualify automatically if they win and Spain drop points in their final two games against Albania and Israel in Group G.
Ben Gladwell reports on Serie A, the Italian national team and the Bundesliga for ESPN FC, UEFA and the Press Association. @UEFAcomBenG.
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Source: espn.co.uk