Vicario joins Italy camp for World Cup play-offs three days after surgery

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has joined up with his Italy teammates at their training camp ahead of the crucial World Cup play-off campaign that kicks off on Thursday night, and is expected to stay with the squad for the remainder of the international break, despite having surgery at the beginning of this week. 

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Vicario meets up with Italy squad despite surgery on Monday

Vicario was not included in Gennaro Gattuso’s list of 28 players for the World Cup play-offs taking place over the next week, beginning with Thursday evening’s semi-final at home against Northern Ireland. Should Italy overcome the Green and White Army, they will go on to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away from home on Tuesday night (March 31) for a spot at the final tournament.

Tottenham later confirmed that the reason behind Vicario’s absence from the Italy squad was due to a hernia issue, and that the former Empoli stopper would have surgery during the international break to minimise the impact of his absence at club level. 

Vicario has been Italy’s second-choice for most of the last few years, and was not expected to start ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma for the crucial play-off matches anyway. 

Vicario had his operation on Monday and updated his supporters with a message on his Instagram story that read: “See you soon”. 

Less than three days after his operation, Vicario is back in Italy and has joined up with his Italy national team colleagues in a show of support and togetherness. 

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Vicario took a private flight over to Italy on Wednesday evening and will stay with the Italy squad for the remainder of the international break, which for Italy, will come to an end after Tuesday night’s match, which will either be a play-off final or a friendly depending on the outcome of Thursday night’s match against Northern Ireland.

At that point, Vicario will return to London to continue his recovery process. Tottenham have stated that they hope to have the goalkeeper back and available ‘within a month’.