Italy have been hit by terrible news ahead of England football clash

Italy have, by Spalletti's own admission, suffered a 'traumatic' week.

Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zanilo, of Newcastle and Aston Villa respectively, are under police investigation following a raid on the country's training camp last week.

Reports have claimed Tonali has admitted placing bets on football matches and faces a ban of up to three years unless he collaborates with authorities. Others, however, say he merely played poker and blackjack.

As for Zanilo, the Villa star insists he didn't bet on football matches - and was unaware he had played on illegal platforms.

It is, in short, a mess.

Tonali and Zanilo are just the first two players to be targeted by authorities, with as many as 40 players in their sights.

Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli is under scrutiny as well - and, like his compatriots, has had his phones and other devices confiscated.

In Italy, there are strict rules in place that prevent athletes from betting on their own sports.

Anyone found guilty of breaching their regulations risks a three-year ban from football.

There are fears, however, that this is just the start. Worries of other top players being involved and that it's only a matter of time before more details drop.

Italy has been engulfed by scandal in the past, of course. Most notably in 2006 - the same year they won the World Cup.

Juventus were relegated to Serie B and stripped of two Serie A titles after being found guilty of match-fixing.

AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio and Reginna were all punished as well.

But losing a host of big names would be a crisis for the country, who have made hard work of qualifying so far, rather than just one specific club.

They've won three of their five matches but Ukraine are now breathing down their necks.

The war-torn country could even go above Italy if they hammer Malta tonight and England win - with the minnows shipping 15 goals from six matches so far.

Spalletti, speaking before the match between England and Italy, has confessed it has been a 'traumatic' week.

And he also admits that betting and gambling can be a 'form of temptation' as well.

“It has been traumatic for the team because we had the authorities almost coming into the dressing room," he said.

Everyone was surprised. Everyone was upset. Some of us were able to give them a hug before they went home.

"The players themselves were absolutely distraught because when you are part of a national team, very strong ties and bonds are created.

"Apart from the results you get, the one other thing you keep with you for the rest of your life is the lasting relationships you make in the national team set-up.

"I do think it is a form of temptation, gambling is a form of temptation, it is a vice, and these things happen and can happen.

"But we are committed to keep speaking to these players, we will continue to keep our eye on them, and we will try to provide them with all of the help, information and support we can to make sure they can go back to doing what they enjoy doing most.

"With this misadventure, we’ve all been affected by this.

"We need to move forward. We have to focus on what our goals are.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• Manchester United staff were banned from taking annual leave before Sir Jim Ratcliffe takeover news broke
• Iran respond to Cristiano Ronaldo 'facing 99 lashes for adultery' as football star scores twice for Portugal
• Wayne Rooney appointment 'stenches' as Tom Brady and Birmingham slaughtered for rolling dice

"They’re good players. But we can’t depend solely on these players in order to get a result.”

He added: "We have to do our jobs. The only way to do that is by going out there and competing.

"If you don’t want to compete, if you don’t want to test yourself against the best in football, you may as well give up.

"There’s no point in doing this job. We haven’t come to play any old game. We have come to play the match we want to.”