Euro 2024

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Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage

Sep 9, 2023 at 7.45pm UK

Tose Proeski Arena

How Italy could line up against North Macedonia

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 1d

Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Italy could line up for Saturday's Euro 2024 qualifying Group C clash with North Macedonia.

Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti takes charge of the Azzurri for the first time when they resume Euro 2024 qualifying Group C duties away to North Macedonia on Saturday.

Replacing Roberto Mancini at the helm, Spalletti heads into September's fixtures without a trio of Euro 2020 heroes in Leonardo Bonucci, Marco Verratti and Jorginho, while Domenico Berardi and Gianluca Scamacca are other notable absentees.

One area where there will seemingly be no alterations for a while is in goal, where Paris Saint-Germain number one Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to make his 55th appearance for the Azzurri aged just 24.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Federico Dimarco are reportedly set to get the nod in the full-back positions, while Alessio Romagnoli ought to fend off Gianluca Mancini to partner Alessandro Bastoni.

Newcastle United new boy Sandro Tonali is a shoo-in for a midfield start alongside Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella, but Spalletti may be facing more of a quandary for the final spot in his engine room trident.

Bryan Cristante and Inter new boy Davide Frattesi - who scored in June's Nations League third-placed playoff win over the Netherlands - are both capable options, but Manuel Locatelli may get the nod, as Lorenzo Pellegrini returns to Roma following an injury.

Up top, skipper Ciro Immobile will aim to consign his injury woes to the past and build on a tally of 16 goals from 56 international appearances, likely with Matteo Politano and Mattia Zaccagni alongside him after Federico Chiesa withdrew from the squad.

Italy possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Romagnoli, Bastoni, Dimarco; Barella, Tonali, Locatelli; Politano, Immobile, Zaccagni

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