Italy ‘suffer Covid-19 scare ahead of Euro 2020 final clash with England after THREE positive tests from media staff inside team camp’
The Italy team has reportedly been rocked with a Covid-19 scare just days before facing England in the final of Euro 2020.
The Azzurri are set to go up against Gareth Southgate’s men on Sunday evening in the showpiece last two at Wembley stadium, but shockwaves of panic have been sent through the camp after positive tests returned.
On Friday it was shown that three members of the Italy media team working within the bubble had tested positive for coronavirus, according to the Sun.
Confirmation of the testing was said to have sent the Italian set-up into a mass panic, with emergency precautions immediately being rolled out as a result.
The designated Italy training camp at Coverciano, on the outskirts of Florence, was immediately shut and a specialist cleaning team was brought in to sanitize the facility.
Reports emerged of a Covid-19 scare in the Italy camp with three media staff testing positive
Further details have since emerged indicating the three media staff in question are thought to have caught the virus while in London, covering Italy’s semi-final victory against Spain at the national stadium.
Wembley will once again play host to the Italians as they return to the English capital this weekend, in hope of breaking the hearts of a nation and defeating the Three Lions on home soil.
It is presently reported that no members of the Italian playing squad or coaching staff have since returned positive tests of their own in the aftermath, but precautions remain ongoing.
Italy remain unbeaten in 33 matches and stand in England’s way of a first trophy since 1966
Manager Roberto Mancini and his squad have now had their bubble further secured
A source at the Italian FA told the Sun: ‘It’s not the ideal preparation for the team and we are making sure that none of them are infected but we are taking no chances and tests are being carried out.
‘The chance of infection with any of the team is small but we want to be sure.
‘It means that training sessions with the media in attendance have all been cancelled and we are having to make other arrangements.’
The three people who tested positive were part of the team bubble, covering the Italian football action with state TV firm RAI.
One journalist and two technicians make up the party of three who returned the positive results.
Two tested positive in the English capital after having covered the semi-final against Spain on Tuesday night, it is reported, while a third person tested positive shortly after upon a return home.
Manager Roberto Mancini and his full Italy playing squad at the tournament are all understood to have been fully vaccinated against the virus.
England stars Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell had to self-isolate after close contact with Billy Gilmour earlier in the tournament, who later tested positive after facing the Three Lions
Should any players return positive tests in the days remaining before the final, they would be forced to self-isolate, along with any fellow stars who had been deemed to be in ‘close contact’ for a sustained period of time, under the current guidelines.
England felt the brunt of the rules and regulations following their group game clash against rivals Scotland, after a later positive test returned by young midfielder Billy Gilmour had implications on the Three Lions.
Gilmour, who plays his club football with Chelsea, embraced his fellow Blues Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell after the final whistle and engaged in a 20-minute conversation with the duo in the tunnel thereafter.
As a result, England pair Mount and Chilwell were forced to self-isolate and missed the final group game clash with the Czech Republic, despite each still returning negative tests.