(From L) France's midfielder #06 Eduardo Camavinga, France's forward #11 Ousmane Dembele, France's forward #15 Marcus Thuram and France's defender #24 Ibrahima Konate stand on the pitch prior to the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final football match between Spain and France at the Munich Football Arena in Munich on July 9, 2024. (Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP) (Photo by TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images)

There are reports from L’Equipe that France are shaking up their defence against Italy in the Nations League, starting Liverpool’s Ibrahim Konaté.

It kicks off at Parc des Princes in Paris at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

This is the opening fixture in the Nations League group, which also includes Belgium and Israel.

Didier Deschamps is planning some changes from the side that reached the EURO 2024 semi-final, quite a few of them forced by Olivier Giroud’s international retirement and injuries to Wesley Fofana, Aurelien Tchaouameni and Ferland Mendy.

RMC Sport claim Loic Bade has also withdrawn due to a muscular problem.

According to L’Equipe, the defence will be tweaked again this evening with Liverpool man Konaté partnering Arsenal’s William Saliba in the centre.

It was originally believed that Dayot Upamecano would get the nod instead.

If Konaté does start, it will be his 17th senior cap for France, the first since June’s friendly against Canada.

He was in the squad for EURO 2024, but did not play a single minute of football.

There are expected to be three Milan players in the starting XI for France, Mike Maignan, Theo Hernandez and Youssouf Fofana.

France vs. Italy probable line-ups

France (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Clauss, Konaté, Saliba, Theo Hernandez; Y Fofana, Kanté; Kolo Muani, Olise, Barcola; Mbappé

Italy (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori; Bellanova, Frattesi, Ricci, Tonali, Dimarco; Retegui, Raspadori

Ref: Schärer (SUI)

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