Implicated: Leonardo Bonucci (front) looks likely to start for Italy

Tuesday’s Italian newspapers carried pictures of Criscito and his former Genoa team-mate Giuseppe Sculli stepping out of a restaurant beside match-fixing suspects.

Explaining his decision to cut Criscito and keep Bonucci when announcing his 23-man squad yesterday, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said: ‘The most annoying thing is that some people have linked Bonucci’s issue with that of Criscito.

‘I reiterate that Bonucci has not received any type of notification from the prosecutors’ office. I explained to Criscito why I’m not taking him. He would have experienced through the media a pressure that no human being could bear.’

Scommessopoli, roughly translated as ‘Betting-gate’, is by no means the first time Italy have gone into a major championship under a cloud.

« Previous1234Next »