TFC’s Giovinco out of Italy squad with injury

Sebastian-Giovinco

Sebastian Giovinco. (Antonio Calanni/AP)

TORONTO—So much for that.

Sebastian Giovinco won’t play for Italy in their upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers after all as the Toronto FC forward pulled out of the national team’s training camp due to injury.

The Atomic Ant received treatment for an abductor muscle problem last week and then aggravated the injury during Saturday’s 2-1 home win over the Montreal Impact. Giovinco played 51 minutes in that game before being subbed out.

Still, he flew to Italy to join the Azzurri so that he could be examined by the team’s medical staff. On Monday, the Italian federation revealed that Giovinco on Monday morning left the team’s camp at Coverciano, located in Florence.

TFC issued a statement on Monday afternoon stating Giovinco “will remain in Italy and return to Toronto later this week where he will be further evaluated.”

It’s highly unlikely the Italian will be available to play for Toronto in this Saturday’s road game against the Seattle Sounders.

Giovinco, 28, has enjoyed an explosive debut season in Major League Soccer thus far, scoring 17 goals and adding 13 assists (both second-best in the league).

Giovinco made his national team debut in February 2011 against Germany, and has won 21 caps for Italy. He played at Euro 2012 and the 2013 Confederations Cup. His last appearance for Italy was a November 2014 victory over Albania.

Italy plays Malta on Sept. 3 (in Florence) and Bulgaria on Sept. 6 (in Palermo) in Euro 2016 qualifying. Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne has been added to the Italy squad as a replacement for Giovinco.

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