Vicario Joins Italy Squad for World Cup Play-offs Just Days After Surgery

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has linked up with the Italy national squad at their training camp, ahead of the vital World Cup play-off matches beginning this Thursday. Remarkably, he is expected to remain with the team throughout the international break, despite having undergone surgery just at the start of the week.

Despite his presence, Vicario was not originally named in Gennaro Gattuso’s 28-player roster for the World Cup play-offs. Italy's campaign commences with a semi-final clash against Northern Ireland at home on Thursday evening. If they emerge victorious, the Azzurri will then compete for a place in the final tournament against either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in an away fixture on Tuesday night, March 31.

Tottenham had previously confirmed that Vicario's omission from the national squad was due to a hernia problem. The club stated that the ex-Empoli shot-stopper would undergo surgery during the international break to lessen any disruption to his club commitments.

For several years, Vicario has served as Italy's second-choice goalkeeper, and therefore, he was not anticipated to start ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma in these critical play-off fixtures.

He underwent his surgical procedure on Monday and subsequently posted an update to his followers on Instagram, simply stating: "See you soon."

Remarkably, less than three days post-operation, Vicario is back in Italy, having reunited with his national team peers in a clear demonstration of solidarity and team spirit.

According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Vicario traveled to Italy via a private flight on Wednesday evening. He is scheduled to remain with the national squad for the remainder of the international break. For Italy, this period will conclude after Tuesday night’s match, which will either be a play-off final or a friendly, contingent on the result of Thursday's fixture against Northern Ireland.

Following this, Vicario will head back to London to continue his rehabilitation. Tottenham has indicated that they anticipate the goalkeeper to be fit and available for selection "within a month."