With Pirlo’s injured calf improving, Italy’s 24th man Andrea Cossu heads home

Italy’s 24th man Cossu heads home

IRENE, South Africa — Italy’s 24th man, Andrea Cossu, is heading home from the World Cup.

Team physicians have determined that the injured left calf of star midfielder Andrea Pirlo could heal before the end of the group phase.

Cossu was brought to South Africa along with the 23-man squad in case Pirlo’s injury took a turn for the worse. The Cagliari midfielder was departing on a flight from Johannesburg on Saturday evening.

Italy opens against Paraguay on Monday.