European Football Championship

Fagioli in Italy squad after ban in betting scandal

Midfielder Nicolo Fagioli is in the defending champions' squad for the European Championship in Germany despite having just completed his month-long ban in the latest betting scandal in Italian soccer!

The 23-year-old from Juventus is part of the final 26-man squad named by team boss Luciano Spalletti on Thursday. Also on board is injured midfielder Nicolo Barella, who missed the recent 0-0 draw against Turkey with a muscle strain.

However, midfielder Samuele Ricci, winger Riccardo Orsolini and goalkeeper Ivan Provedel were left out of the provisional squad.

Fagioli was banned for seven months in October for allegedly squandering more than one million euros on illegal sports betting on online platforms. He is considered the central figure in the scandal that rocked Italian soccer.

 "Nicolo has the quality, creativity and physicality it takes!"
He made his first appearance in Serie A at the end of May, coming on as a substitute in the 0-0 draw against Turkey on Tuesday and playing his second international match. "Nicolo has the quality, creativity and physicality needed on the pitch," said Spalletti, praising him.

Italy will play a final European Championship test match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Sunday. On Monday, the defending champions will travel to Germany and take up residence in Iserlohn. Their opponents in Group B are Albania, Spain and Croatia.