Luciano Spalletti is expected to change at least five players in Italy’s starting XI against Ukraine on Tuesday, reports La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Azzurri have a must-win game at San Siro tomorrow, in Spalletti’s first home game as Italy coach.
Two of the starters against North Macedonia, Matteo Politano and Gianluca Mancini, have pulled out of the squad and Spalletti has called Riccardo Orsolini to replace the Napoli winger.
According to Gazzetta, Nicolò Zaniolo is favourite to start on the right wing against Ukraine, while Giorgio Scalvini should replace Mancini in central defence.
However, Spalletti is expected to make even more changes. Manuel Locatelli is likely to start in place of Bryan Cristante hoping to add quality to the Azzurri’s midfield. Likewise, Matteo Pessina or Davide Frattesi could replace Sandro Tonali.
Mattia Zaccagni doesn’t seem to have a guaranteed starting spot either as both Giacomo Raspadori (favourite) and Wilfried Gnonto could get the nod on the left flank.
Playing for the national team should mean everything, yet the sense I get is it doesn’t seem to for some of the players. Ask any fan and they will tell you what it means. Against Ukraine we will have to match their heart of playing for their country, to put everything on the line.