Italy CT Roberto Mancini is facing an injury crisis in defence, but hopes to see Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini return to action for the World Cup play-offs final. Here’s how the Azzurri could line up against North Macedonia on Thursday.
The Azzurri will host North Macedonia at Palermo’s Renzo Barbera Stadium in the play-offs semi-finals on Thursday. Mancini has confirmed that he’ll be short of options at centre back with Bonucci injured and Chiellini not 100% fit.
Italy to face World Cup play-offs semis without Euro 2020 defence
The Juventus captain had played 45 minutes against Salernitana on Sunday and Mancini said yesterday that the defender would decide whether to play two games in five days. If Italy beat North Macedonia, they will play the final away from home against Turkey or Portugal on March 29.
Aside from the two central defenders, Mancini is expected to confirm the same starting line-up that went on to win the Euros in the summer.
The coach said that Gigio Donnarumma is not a problem despite his recent issues at PSG, so the ex-Milan star is a sure starter. Alessandro Florenzi will likely replace the injured Giovanni Di Lorenzo at right-back, while Emerson Palmieri will be left-back.
Alessandro Bastoni will be one of the two central defenders against North Macedonia, and either Gianluca Mancini (favourite) or Francesco Acerbi will partner with him on Thursday. Midfield and attack will remain exactly the same as during the Euros with Domenico Berardi starting in place of Federico Chiesa who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
The Sassuolo star is the most decisive Serie A player this term having contributed to 28 goals in 27 appearances with Sassuolo (14 goals and 14 assists). Here’s how Italy could line up against North Macedonia and in the potential final against Turkey or Portugal (via La Gazzetta dello Sport).
On the left, the possible line-up for the match against North Macedonia, on the right the one for the potential final.
How is there no room for Lorenzo Pellegrini at least
That back 4 is very suspect! Especially if Acerbi was to start. Mystifies me how Calabria has a great season last year and solid this year despite injuries, starts for Milan AHEAD of Florenzi yet Florenzi gets the nod for Italy even though he has been nothing short of garbage for us. Then, to make matters worse, he calls up Di Sciglio ahead of Calabria even though he barely features for Juventus and is more of a left back these days.
Mancini = head gone.
Yes Paolo, Calabria deserves a call-up; he has been a consistent, strong player and is very young. He should be building with Italy now. Florenzi is a bit-part player for Milan who struggles when he plays. Makes no sense.
Which Insigne will we see? That’s the most important question.
Pellegrini is in good from, maybe he should play. I hope Mancini gets it right.
This is little shaky right now. Like everyone else here Mancini did a mistake not calling up Calabria and Balotelli, I am not sure what Florenzi is doing here. Also Pellegrini is amazing, I hope he can be part of this!
Good luck Italy, I hope all will go well and we can see the Azzuri in the World Cup, Forza Italia
I think Mancini would go back to a solid quasi-back 3 similar to during his earlier days with Azzurri (when he used Izzo @ right back).back to basics I guess so the 4 defenders might read :- Mancini, Acerbi, Bastoni, Emerson, midfield and attack pretty much his favorite combo..so Pellegrini will probably comes in for Insigne as sub…Florenzi utility man at best–not a starter—wishing all the best for Italy ..Forza Azzurri…Please win..
Do not forget, the team above is all guess. Shame about Calabria which I agree should have been in the squad but he is looking at players that are versatile. I think Pellegrini will either start or definitely come on at some point. Personally, I would have preferred Biraghi (awesome at freekicks) instead of Emerson Palmieri.
Get Pellegrini in there he is playing well right now. Stack the midfield 3-5-2 we have great minefield players ,4-3-3 won’t work if we get to play against Portugal
I’m a huge Calabria fan – he’d be my starting RB too and it’s ludicrous that he isn’t called up.
It’s just as bad that Jorginho is starting ahead of Tonali too though. Tonali offers much more bite and energy. He’s quicker than the other midfielders too.
I’m confused how some of you are claiming Florenzi has been garbage for Milan though. Albeit probably because of injury, but Calabria has been outperformed by Florenzi in 2022 so far. Florenzi even did okay at left back.
Mancini left home some very good players. Lazzari, Calabria, Dimarco, Frattesi, Castrovilli and Balotelli. We really don’t need any of Brazil’s rejects. With the current squad available I would have to go with a 4-3-3. If everyone is healthy I would start with Donnarumma; De Sciglio, Bonucci, Chiellini, Biraghi; Veratti, Barella, Sensi/Pellegrini; Zaniolo, Scamacca, Zaccagni.
I don’t understand the choices of Florenzi, De Sciglio, Cristante, Pessina, Jorginho, Belotti, Felipe, Joao Pedro and Acerbi.
Bonucci and Chiellini don’t seem to be ready so Mancini and Bastoni really need to step up. It looks like he will go with majority of the same line up that he’s been using so all we can do is hope for the best…
Chiellini has spent more time on the injury table than dybala.yet they ditched dybala and offered chiellini a new deal.i understand dybala has been injured most of the time,but he remains an important part of the team.why wait this long to tell him he’s no longer part of the team’s plan.the management is ruining this team with their decision.
Calabria should be there. Full stop.
Pellegrini is in fine form but the 4-3-3 leaves him little space. Can he come in as a sub for Insigne or even Berardi we will see.
Defense is still highly questionable as to whether Bonucci and even Chiellini have 180 minutes in their legs. Id go with Mancini if either one cannot play. Acerbi has been poor so no to him. Bastoni is good but still green and not the stage to let him learn.
The Jorginho clown show, coupled with Mancini’s reluctance to trust young talent, will result in the second consecutive missed world cup. A shame. Perhaps it is deserved since Mancini glorified one of the worst midfielders I have ever seen play the game. If Mancini realized he won the Euros playing one man down ever game, he would have known it was impossible to qualify for the world cup continuing this tactic.