Continuing their quest for a first UEFA Nations League crown, Italy will welcome familiar foes Germany to San Siro on Thursday evening, as the pair play out the first leg of an enticing quarter-final tie.
After putting up a tame defence of their continental title at Euro 2024, the Azzurri have been remodelled by head coach Luciano Spalletti, finishing runners-up to France in League A Group 2 with a new-look back line.
Due to his preference for a three-man defence, Spalletti requires a stock of fit and able wing-backs, so a recent injury for Inter Milan star Federico Dimarco came as a major blow.
Destiny Udogie and first-time call-up Matteo Ruggeri are therefore vying for selection on the left flank, while the versatile Andrea Cambiaso hopes to start on the opposite wing despite an ongoing fitness issue.
At the heart of the hosts’ defence, Riccardo Calafiori is the most likely of three left-footed centre-backs to miss out, as Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo generally starts on the right.
In addition to Ruggeri, Torino’s Cesare Casadei could make his senior debut, but established engine-room operators such as Nicolo Barella, Sandro Tonali and Davide Frattesi are all ahead of him in the pecking order, alongside Lazio fulcrum Nicolo Rovella.
Spalletti has suggested he is keen to start with two strikers at some point, but faced by tough opposition, Capocannoniere rankings leader Mateo Retegui is favourite to beat Moise Kean and Lorenzo Lucca to take a lone role up front.
With Roma’s Lorenzo Pellegrini still out of favour, either Barella or Frattesi – both playing on home turf in Milan – should support Retegui, linking midfield and attack.
Making his 71st senior appearance at the age of just 26, Paris Saint-Germain penalty hero Gianluigi Donnarumma captains La Nazionale once again, meaning back-up roles for reserve goalkeepers Guglielmo Vicario and Alex Meret.
Italy possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni; Cambiaso, Frattesi, Rovella, Tonali, Udogie; Barella; Retegui
> Click here to see how Germany could line up for this UEFA Nations League contest
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