Roberto Mancini’s European Champions host Spain in the UEFA Nations League semi-final at San Siro in the beautiful city of Milan at 12:15 AM IST.
The Azzuri are on a 37-game unbeaten record and will be looking to defend it. It will be a rematch after both sides met at Wembley stadium last July in the Euro 2020 semi-final. Italy prevailed over Luis Enrique’s La Roja in a penalty shootout after a thrilling 1-1 draw.
This time, a victory for either would set up a final clash with Belgium or France.
Italy went unbeaten in their Nations League group A1 last year. Spain topped group A4 and suffered their only defeat last November losing 1-0 to Ukraine.
Italy will be looking to add the Nations League after their Euros triumph but undoubtedly fact a stern test.
Italy Squad:
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alex Meret, Salvatore Sirigu.
DEF: Federico DiMarco, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Alessandro Bastoni, Davide Calabria, Francesco Acerbi, Giorgio Chiellini©, Leonardo Bonucci, Emerson.
MID: Bryan Cristante, Jorginho, Manuel Locatelli, Marco Verratti, Niccolo Barella.
ATT: Federico Bernardeschi, Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Chiesa, Moise Kean, Domenico Berardi, Giacomo Raspadori.
Calabria, DiMarco and Kean replace the injured Rafael Toloi, Mateo Pessina and Ciro Immobile respectively.
Spain Squad:
GK: David de Gea, Unai Simon, Robert Sanchez
DEF: Pedro Porro, Sergi Roberto, Marcos Alonso, Sergio Reguilon, Cesar Azpilicueta, Aymeric Laporte, Inigo Martinez, Eric Garcia, Pau Torres.
MID: Mikel Merino, Gavi, Koke, Yeremi Pino, Rodri, Sergio Busquets©, Pablo Sarabia, Pablo Fornals.
ATT: Mikel Oyarzabal, Bryan Gil, Ferran Torres.
Atletico Madrid’s Marcos Llorente and Barcelona whiz Pedri were initially selected but were ruled out injured. The Catalan giant’s 17-year-old midfielder Gavi got a call-up along with Tottenham Hotspur’s new summer signing Bryan Gil and Villarreal’s Pino.
Expected Lineups:
Italy (4-3-3)
Donnarumma, Calabria,Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson, Jorginho, Barella, Verratti, Berardi, Chiesa, Insigne.
Spain (4-3-3)
Simon, Azpilicueta, Laporte, Torres, Reguilon, Rodri, Merino, Koke, Torres (False 9), Sarabia, Oyarzabal.
Our Prediction:
FT Italy 2-1 Spain