The obvious silver lining of striker Sebastian Giovinco’s exclusion from Italy’s European Championship squad earlier this week is that Toronto FC retains its most valuable player.
Take a more nuanced look at the situation and Giovinco remaining with the Reds for the month of June is of particular benefit to one player: forward Mo Babouli.
“For Mo, probably two days ago he might have been in a way our one striker,” coach Greg Vanney said after Italian coach Antonio Conte left Giovinco off the team for next month’s tournament in France.
With forward Jozy Altidore out with another long-term hamstring injury, Giovinco’s absence would have placed the bulk of Toronto’s attacking responsibility squarely on Babouli’s shoulders.