Italy reveal Leonardo Spinazzola ruptured left achilles against Belgium

Italy’s left-back Leonardo Spinazzola suffered a ruptured achilles during the Euro 2020 quarter-final win over Belgium, the Italian Football Federation has announced.

Spinazzola, who has impressed during the tournament, pulled up as he raced forward during the second half of Italy’s 2-1 victory in Munich and was visibly upset as he was carried off. The Roma player, 28, underwent tests at the Sant’Andrea Hospital in Rome, and it was established he had suffered a “subcutaneous rupture of the left achilles tendon”.

The Italian FA’s president, Gabriele Gravina, said: “I felt very sorry for Spinazzola, because he had been giving so much to this team. I wish him the best of luck for a quick return, because not only is he a great professional, but he has also shown great personal qualities.”

The Roma defender was given a huge ovation by his teammates after returning to the Italy training camp on Saturday. The Azzurri face Spain in the semi-finals at Wembley on Tuesday evening. Spinazzola faces around six months out with the injury.