Italy probable starting XI for World Cup play-off with Northern Ireland
After the first day of training and with quite a few injuries still to be dealt with, the first signs are emerging of a possible Italy starting XI against Northern Ireland.
The World Cup play-off semi-final kicks off at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo on Thursday at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).
Whoever wins will then face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final on Tuesday March 31.
Italy side still taking shape in Gattuso’s mind
Gennaro Gattuso has already been forced to make some changes to his squad due to injuries, sending Federico Chiesa back home to Liverpool and calling in Bologna’s Nicolò Cambiaghi.
There are others who are not fully fit and still in doubt, such as Alessandro Bastoni, Riccardo Calafiori, Sandro Tonali and Gianluca Mancini.
It is widely reported Gattuso will set Italy out in a 3-5-2 formation, with Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal and wearing the captain’s armband.
If Bastoni or Arsenal’s Calafiori cannot make it, then Federico Gatti is more likely to step in.
For the midfield, Davide Frattesi is the first alternative to Tonali, with Matteo Politano expected to start even after he was spotted with a large bandage on his shin today.
Manuel Locatelli, Nicolò Barella and Federico Dimarco are all confident of a place in the XI.
Gianluca Scamacca is definitely not fit for the semi-final, so Moise Kean and Mateo Retegui should retain their places upfront.
The splendid recent form of Inter striker Francesco Pio Esposito is not yet enough to get him into the starting XI.
Italy (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Calafiori, Mancini, Bastoni; Politano, Locatelli, Tonali, Barella, Dimarco; Kean, Retegui