Cagliari’s Daring Challenge: Six Key Players Absent as National Team Duty Calls!

Last Sunday saw the Cagliari team break ranks after their disappointing outing against Roma, with training resuming on a Thursday afternoon at the Crai Sport Center in Assemini. However, it was a notable gathering sans six international players: Velizar Ilia Iliev, Răzvan Marin, Yerry Mina, Adam Obert, Matteo Prati, and Alen Sherri. These lads have been selected for the end-of-March international break, the last of the season, and may only return just ahead of the crucial Serie A clash against Monza, scheduled for Sunday at 12:30. Among the first to make an appearance, should he be chosen, will be goalkeeper Iliev, who just last week signed his first professional contract with Cagliari. Called up by Bulgaria's Under-21 side, he will take part in a couple of friendlies: the first on Thursday at 16:00 against Cyprus, followed by an encounter at home versus Greece on Tuesday, the 25th. Also on the same day, fellow youth international Matteo Prati will don the Azzurrini jersey as Italy's Under-21s gear up for two friendlies ahead of the European Championship in June in Slovakia. The Italians will face the Netherlands in Venice this Friday, and take on Denmark in Cittadella the following Monday, both matches kicking off at 18:15. For young Prati, it’s a timely opportunity to clock some minutes, returning to the starting lineup in Rome, a rare occurrence for him in 2025. The only player making an intercontinental journey is Mina, who will be the last of the Cagliari contingent to return. The defender has answered the call from Colombia, vying for qualification points for the 2026 World Cup. As it stands, with six games to go, the Cafeteros sit third, level on points with Ecuador at 19, and ahead of Bolivia and Venezuela. Mina faces Brazil away, under the floodlights at 01:45 Italian time between Thursday and Friday, and then hosts Paraguay in Barranquilla at 01:00 on the night of Tuesday the 24th into Wednesday the 25th, marking the final fixture for Cagliari’s players during this break. Italy will also be engaging in the Nations League, just like Slovakia’s Obert, who is set to participate in the playoff between League B and League C against Slovenia, with the first leg at home on Thursday at 20:45 and the return on Sunday at 18:00 away. In World Cup qualifying, Marin will lead Romania against Bosnia at home and then travel to San Marino, while Sherri with Albania will take on England at Wembley and Andorra in Tirana. Both of these fixtures are set for Friday at 20:45 and Monday at the same hour, respectively. And on Friday, Cagliari will take on Macomerese in a friendly at 15:00, with the latter currently sitting twelfth in Promotion Group B.