Good news for Italy! Fagioli is fit and scores in a training match, set to be a surprise weapon against Spain

Italian Sky Sport, Goal.com, and other media outlets have confirmed that Juventus midfielder Fagioli has recovered from his injury and scored in an internal training match ahead of Italy’s encounter with Spain.

In their opening Euro 2024 fixture, Italy secured a 2-1 victory over Albania. Undeterred, the team immediately started preparations for their second match. The Azzurri faced Borussia Dortmund’s youth team in a friendly behind closed doors, providing an opportunity for players who didn’t feature or had limited minutes in the first group game to maintain their fitness.

Italy emerged victorious with a 3-1 win over Dortmund’s young guns. The result was secondary; for Italy’s coach, Roberto Mancini, the focus was on assessing the performance of those who had less playing time in the initial match, including Fagioli. The Juventus youngster, who had been dealing with minor physical issues, demonstrated encouraging signs of full recovery. Playing as one of the double pivots in a 4-2-3-1 formation, similar to his role in pre-tournament friendlies, Fagioli found the back of the net once, sharing the spotlight with Raitegui, who scored twice. Mancini’s smile indicated the positive impact this could have on the June 21 clash against Spain, potentially deploying Fagioli as a game-changer.

Fagioli’s absence was noticeable in the second half of the Albania match, as Italy’s pace slowed, likely due to fatigue. Jorginho played the entire match, while Barella was substituted only in the final minutes. Fagioli’s return offers Mancini the option to rest key midfielders or inject fresh energy into the game against Spain, a boost for Italy’s prospects in the tournament.

Other Juventus players like Gatti and Cambiasso also impressed in the training session.