Palestra: ‘Italy defeat against Bosnia still hurts, but we have to turn the page’

Italy and Chelsea full-back Marco Palestra admits that the World Cup play-off final defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier this year ‘still hurts a lot’ and potentially ‘always will’, but says that it is now down to the players to turn the page and write a new chapter in the history books.

Palestra was called up to the Italy national team squad for the first time since Roberto Mancini was reinstated as CT last week and is hoping to put past disappointments behind him heading into Nations League fixtures against France and Belgium later this week.

The 21-year-old missed out on selection for the first international break of the season as he was recovering from a muscular injury he picked up with Chelsea just before the 2026-27 Premier League season got underway.

That injury has limited Palestra to just two Premier League starts since his €60m transfer from Atalanta over the summer, but the young Azzurri talent had begun to feature more regularly in Xabi Alonso’s side prior to the international break.

“It’s all been positive despite the injury and recovery period. I’ve started to play recently, I’m doing fine and feeling good,” said Palestra in a recent interview with Rai Sport (via TMW).

“I have to thank my coach and my teammates. I’m fortunate because they managed me well when I got back, bringing me in slowly and calmly, I’m feeling good now.”

Palestra insists that he is not concerned by the fact that he has not registered any goal involvements during his time with Chelsea thus far.

“No, definitely not. I don’t decide when I get to score. All I can do is try and play well and improve as much as possible. It doesn’t weigh on me too much. I’m focused on improving and playing as much as possible.

“I’m lucky to be in a group of strong players and a great coaching staff, who all help me. I’ve also come to the strongest league in the world, so it’s okay. I’m happy and want to carry on on this journey.”

Palestra has no doubt that the Premier League is the strongest and most competitive league in the world at the moment, and says that it is encouraging to see so many young Italians getting opportunities in England.

“In my opinion, it’s the best league in the world, the most competitive. The intensity is very high in England, there’s a lot of physicality but lots of quality as well. So I think it’s the best league in the world at the moment. Aside from the rivalries, it’s nice that there are so many young Italians playing in the Premier League, I’m happy about that.”

Palestra was introduced off the bench during Italy’s World Cup play-off final heartbreak against Bosnia earlier this year, which cost the Azzurri a place at the 2026 World Cup in North America.

“It still hurts a lot and I think it always will,” Palestra admitted. “But I know that we need to turn the page. We have to try to do that. What happened will always be there, but it’s up to us now to write great new pages in the history books of Italian sport.

“I always watch back all the games I play in. It was tough, but the only thing I can assure you is that we all gave our best to try and achieve that goal. It went the way it did and now it’s up to us to turn the page.”

Looking ahead to Thursday’s test against France, Palestra is looking forward to the possibility of testing himself against some of the finest attackers in the world: Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola are among the star names in the France squad.

“They’re some of the strongest players in the world and that is motivation for us. We have to be aware of our abilities and be ready,” said Palestra.

And on his start to life under Mancini, Palestra added: “From what I’ve seen so far, the feeling is positive. I obviously watched all the games that my teammates played in the last international breaks and it feels like a good group. We’re all united, the coach is great and helps us a lot, so, only positive feelings.”