With Federico Dimarco likely out with a bruised calf, Italy could move Riccardo Calafiori to left-back against Croatia and bring in another central defender.
It kicks off in Leipzig on Monday at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
A point would suffice to send the Azzurri through to the Round of 16 in second place behind Spain, whereas Croatia need a victory to qualify after one point from the opening two games.
Coach Luciano Spalletti was already planning several changes to the side that beat Albania 2-1 and then lost 1-0 to Spain, but another is certainly forced upon him, as Dimarco did not train today due to a bruised right calf.
A statement from the FIGC noted his condition was being evaluated on a day-to-day basis, so he is not going to be fit to start on Monday evening.
With that in mind, it also makes it less likely that Spalletti could shelve the four-man defence for three, considering Dimarco’s surges forward were a big part of those moves at Inter in a 3-5-2.
Calafiori versatile for Italy
Instead, we could see Calafiori moved from centre-back to left-back, a role where he really started his career and has played a few times for Bologna this season.
He would then be replaced in the middle of the defence by Gianluca Mancini with Alessandro Bastoni, while Matteo Darmian is expected to come in on the right.
In midfield, Jorginho could be dropped in favour of either the more defensive Bryan Cristante or creative Nicolò Fagioli to partner Nicolò Barella.
Considering the strength and experience of the Croatian midfield, he might not want to launch Fagioli into that battle.
Federico Chiesa and Gianluca Scamacca have not given their best so far and are facing competition from Mattia Zaccagni and Mateo Retegui.
Possible Italy line-up against Croatia
(4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Darmian, Bastoni, Mancini, Calafiori; Barella, Cristante; Chiesa, Frattesi, Zaccagni; Retegui
Di Marco has been a complete disappointment for the Azzurri…. If he bothered to apply himself as his does for club level i would not be so critical of him
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Cristante is a total waste of garbage and why would Mancini play ahead of Buongiorno? If they crash out this will totally be on Spalletti.
cheias speed and talent barella leaving them out i question this take the game to them they will play rough hard reffer will favour them
This is a good thing. He doesn’t play as good for the Azzurri as he does for Inter.
Dimarco needs to be the midfielder he is for Inter. Let’s stop pretending he’s a defender. Inter play with 3 CB’s in the back and that is likely how we’ll see Italy play. The Good Lord saw that Spalletti needed some help an intervened here. Putting Mancini in effectively creates a three man defense like Inter plays when Darmian is in. Calafiori get’s back better than Dimarco, and he likes to surge forward.
Do Lorenzo on the right was pants. He needs to be replaced too.
Dimarco should be in midfield. Chiesa as centre Forward since we have no strikers. Biraghi in Dimarco’s play and Zampacosta for Di Lorenzo has they been chosen. I think Italy are out it’s too late.
To MG
Mancini is a beast. Nobody out there like him . I can tell you don’t watch many Roma games.Crisante is the top tackler that’s Italian in all SerieA. U need a Materazzi on this team that can tackle ,win air duels and be a menace on corners. Mancini is that.