Italy1 - 2Germany

Italy boss Luciano Spalletti included the Arsenal defender in his starting lineup for the UEFA Nations League quarter-final first leg.

The Azzurri fell to a narrow loss at the San Siro despite taking the lead through Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali.

To compound their misery, Italy were dealt an injury blow in stoppage time when Calafiori had to go off after slipping on the pitch in his attempt to change direction quickly.

Calafiori, who was seen grabbing his knee, was treated on the pitch by Italy's medical staff, before he indicated that he was unable to see out the final moments of the contest.

Spalletti provides Calafiori update

The Arsenal defender was seen limping out of the San Siro, and when he was asked about the extent of his injury, he replied: "I don't know."

Spalletti was also unable to provide any detail about the severity of Calafiori's injury in his media duties following the narrow defeat in Milan.

"We still don't know if he's injured," Spalleti told reporters. "Ricky feels something strange at his knee but we still don't know."

Italy's medical staff will assess Calafiori in the next day or so to establish whether he will be ready for Sunday's return leg in Dortmund.

Arsenal left sweating over Calafiori's fitness

Like Spalletti, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta also faces an anxious wait to learn the severity of the defender's knee issue.

Calafiori has already seen his campaign disrupted by injury problems, and he will be desperate to avoid any other setbacks ahead of the final two months of the season.

Arsenal will return to Premier League action against Fulham on April 1, but their greater concern may be about whether Calafiori will be ready for the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.

The Gunners will play host to the reigning European champions on April 8, before they face Los Blancos eight days later in the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Written by

Ben Sully