Lazio Send Nine Players To International Duty In March Break

Lazio will be without nine players during the March international break, with a mix of World Cup playoff ties and friendlies taking several members of Maurizio Sarri’s squad away from Formello. The Biancoceleste will have nine call ups in total, with three players involved in European World Cup playoffs and the rest split between youth qualifiers and friendly windows.

The most important competitive matches involve the European World Cup playoff bracket. Denmark have called up Gustav Isaksen and Oliver Provstgaard, and their semi final is scheduled at home against North Macedonia. If Denmark progress, they will face the winner of Czech Republic versus Republic of Ireland in the final.

Elseid Hysaj is also part of the playoff picture with Albania, who travel to Poland in their semi final. UEFA listings for the European Qualifiers playoff schedule show Poland versus Albania as the next match in that path, with the winner moving on to a final against Sweden or Ukraine.

Two Lazio players are also involved at youth level. Adrian Przyborek will join Poland Under 19 for a demanding Euro Under 19 qualifying schedule that includes matches against Portugal, England, and Serbia.

Goalkeeper Edoardo Motta has been called into the Italy Under 21 setup for Euro Under 21 qualifying matches against North Macedonia and Sweden. Football Italia’s U21 update notes the same pair of fixtures in that window.

Beyond playoffs and qualifiers, four Lazio players have been selected for friendly matches with their national teams. The Laziali list Petar Ratkov with Serbia, Adam Marusic with Montenegro, Boulaye Dia with Senegal, and Fisayo Dele Bashiru with Nigeria, all scheduled for friendlies rather than competitive qualifiers in this window.

There is also a notable absence from the Italy senior squad. With Mattia Zaccagni injured and Daniel Maldini not selected, Lazio do not have a representative in Gennaro Gattuso’s main Italy group for this break, even though Motta will be with the Azzurrini at Under 21 level.