Probable line-ups: France vs. Italy with big names returning
Italy are expected to start the Esposito brothers together again with Moise Kean not fully fit, a revamped midfield and Michael Kayode confirmed at right-back against France.
It kicks off at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).
Roberto Mancini confirmed in his press conference that Como striker Kean is a major doubt and might not even be on the bench tomorrow evening.
With that in mind, and their strong performance during the 4-1 victory in Turkiye, it looks as if brothers Pio and Sebastiano Esposito could be confirmed together upfront.
The third prong of the trident attack won’t be Giacomo Raspadori or Nicolò Zaniolo, who were sent home with injuries, so Daniel Maldini is pushing for a start.
While there were wholesale changes between the 2-0 defeat to Belgium and 4-1 win in Turkiye, what we could see is a hybrid between those two teams in Paris.
Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Fagioli should remain from the most recent match, but with Inter star Nicolò Barella stepping in to replace Davide Frattesi.
The alternative would be for Frattesi to get the nod rather than Fagioli, even if that gives them a lack of creativity.
In defence, Kayode’s strong performance and goal in Bursa make it more and more likely the Brentford right-back will retain his spot, leaving Giovanni Di Lorenzo on the bench.
Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal definitely returns after Matteo Ruggeri’s debut, with the central pairing of Alessandro Bastoni and Giorgio Scalvini confirmed.
France also rotated with nine changes between the side that beat Turkiye to the one that conquered Belgium in the final minute.
Kylian Mbappé has been sent home with a knee injury he sustained in the first match, but Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot and Roma talent Manu Koné should return to the starting XI.
Although Lucas Da Cunha impressed in Brussels, the Como man is expected to sit on the bench against Italy.
Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise are back in the trident, but Désiré Doué has perhaps done enough to retain his place.
Inter’s Andy Diouf and Juventus full-back Pierre Kalulu should be dropped, but L’Equipe suggest Milan’s Mike Maignan could be rested in favour of 21-year-old Guillaume Restes for his debut.
France vs. Italy probable line-ups
France (4-3-3): Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Jacquet, Truffert; Cherki, Koné, Rabiot; Olise, Dembelé, Doué
Italy (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Kayode, Scalvini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Barella, Tonali, Fagioli; Maldini, P Esposito, S Esposito
