Torino defender Alessandro Buongiorno ‘can’t wait’ for his senior Italy debut, as he starts this afternoon’s Nations League match against the Netherlands.
The third place play-off for the Nations League kicks off at the De Grolsche Veste Stadium in Enschede at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
Coach Roberto Mancini has made seven changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Spain in the semi-final, including the senior international debut for Torino centre-back Buongiorno.
“I am very emotional, ready to start, I can’t wait and my teammates gave me plenty of advice,” Buongiorno told Sky Sport Italia.
“I think that during the game we will continue to communicate on the field. It’s going to be a tough match with a lot of midfield clashes, so we need to be compact and work together as a unit.
“It’s going to be a marvellous atmosphere and we can’t wait to play.”
Buongiorno was not originally even in the squad for the Nations League Final Four, but was called up at the last minute when Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni pulled out with flu symptoms.
He is more accustomed to playing in a three-man defence than the 4-3-3 and only turned 24 last week, so this entire experience in the Nations League was a real birthday gift.
It is somewhat curious that of the starting back four today, all of them usually play in a three-man defence at club level.